At the Market on Market in Ellenville on Friday, we saw people buying vegetables, artisanal cheese, $25 lobster rolls, and eyeing $500 rugs. There was a happy atmosphere at the Market, which is a hybrid, with “farmers” on one hand, and distillers and artisans on the other. There are also presentations, music and related projects coalescing into a lovely downtown experience. Market on Market debuted last year and was a great success, helped by the people that Ellenville business owners have been dreaming of for years, who have finally shown up.

Ten years ago, local folks set up a farmer’s market on the same space. They had vegetables, they had wine, they had cheese, too. But there just wasn’t a population around that was interested in supporting the concept… Then it was attempted again a few years later, but those attempts at igniting a farmer’s market also failed; seems it was still too soon. Ellenville was too far, isolated in its natural beauty spot, and condemned for its loss of industry. A spot on the Rust Belt and Ulster County’s oft-forgotten land.

Now we’ve got a new wave of residents and they are bringing a lot more energy to the area. Point to note: There are certainly local young people who are doing their bit, too. We have a unique local business at Twin Ravens, where coffee is roasted and meaningful conversations shared. We have a pair of local men running local gyms. We also have the amazing Exotic Snacks outlet for those who like strange flavors of Kit Kat and Timbits cereal from Canada. There is definitely local energy, and it is now being boosted by newcomers.

Does that make Ellenville an outpost of Brooklyn? No. Contemplating Market on Market the other day we were struck by another thought. With the economic revitalization that will come with major incoming ventures like Cresco Labs’ huge cannabis facility, or the proposed rebirth of the Nevele as a luxury resort, as well as other as-yet-unannounced projects coming, Ellenville/Wawarsing will become the “Woodstock” of southwest Ulster County. Without the tie-dye and lots more pot. Lots.

Ten years ago, there were other attempts to shift things. Defunct businesses sprouted again and again, remember Pleasant Stone Farm? That was in the space now occupied for the moment by “Weird Ellenville, the Gallery.” At that time even whole grains and organic vegetables were “weird” to the village people. How about City Girl bakery on Canal Street? Best macarons most people have ever tasted, but that died, too. It was too soon. City Girl went back to the city.

Now just walking up and down Canal Street one can see empty storefronts starting to fill up. This is not the 1960s. Lots of retail businesses of that “golden” time cannot succeed today, because ... Walmart, Amazon, etc. What will come and succeed today will be “niche” and may be things like the projected espresso coffee bar, Italian style, along with books and records, that is coming to Canal. Also coming is Dolly’s Market, another venture by the dynamic duo behind Market on Market. This will bring groceries back to the village for the first time since ... actually, nobody, not even Elliott Auerbach can remember exactly when the last grocer shut up shop in the village. Dick Peters might know.

Will it stick this time? Consider that the two major employers aren’t leaving — Ellenville Regional Hospital and Eastern Correctional — and new major employers are finally coming in. The chances are good that there will be sufficient money coursing through the veins of the village and town to really make the difference.

And if Ellenville makes the transition to a Woodstock level of fashionability and glam, it will be just another turn in the village’s already lengthy and varied “production” history: 18th century farm fields, 19th century glass manufacturing, mountain houses and hotels, 20th century Channel Master, and knives, especially Imperial Schrade. The village has had breweries, bottled water plants, a canal, a railroad, and on several occasions has sent products, Ellenville Glass, Channel Master TV aerials, handcrafted folding knives, etc., all over the nation.

The next round looks like it will be cannabis and related products, but with the new people, the dynamic younger local people, and new energy, there may be new developments that nobody has thought of yet.