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Popular Area Café Facing Uncertain Future

The owners of a popular new restaurant in the area who have been fighting to stay open after complaints from neighbors got a reprieve of sorts during a zoning meeting.

Café Con Leche

Café Con Leche

Photo Credit: Café Con Leche

Café Con Leche, a Puerto Rican eatery located in Wappinger at 10 Main St., in a building that was built in 1852, and has been home to another cafe and a deli and catering outfit, will be allowed to stay open until at least Oct. 21, after the Town of Poughkeepsie Zoning Board tabled the issue until the next meeting.

The café, which formerly operated out of a stand on the platform of the New Hamburg train station, was hit with the zoning violation after complaints from residents about additional traffic and noise came up when the restaurant began to draw large crowds, and lines outside.

The issue is the area is not zoned for restaurants unless they have a special use permit. Owner Phil Cordero said on Facebook that during the entire opening process city officials never mentioned the need for a special permit.

The café received the violation notice in June and were notified that a hearing would be held on Monday, Sept. 9. 

Since that time, Cordero has urged customers and others to pray for them and to come out and support them during the meeting.

The news spread quickly and a July 19 Facebook post detailing the issue received more than 784 comments and some 488 shares.

And while the issue has been shuffled down the road a bit, Cordero said he still needs everyone prayers and support.

Meanwhile, he said on Facebook, he will be open for business. 

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