Wassaic Commons: a Landmark Commercial Property
What was once an old dairy barn from the 1920s has been transformed into a vibrant hub encouraging collaboration, design, and entrepreneurship. Driven by the goal to create a marketplace for talented makers,
and encourage well-crafted products within the community, Wassaic Commons was born.
The barn has been
meticulously and creatively restored by the owners, a Manhattan based architect and designer, who teamed up with exceptional carpenters and local tradespeople,
leaving no detail overlooked. Now, after six years of dedication, they are ready to pass the torch and invite you to embark on your own journey in celebrating the art of design, community, and the entrepreneurial spirit.
The entire 11,388 sqft
property consists of the 2 story barn, which is ready to host ground floor retail space alongside the established and beloved Vitsky Bakery, 20ft tall ceilings on the second floor of the expansive and Instagrammable event space, and a separate outdoor storage shed with walk in cooler.
The grounds have been tidied up with landscaping that perfectly tie in to the beautiful views of the creek, along with al fresco dining potential! With actual rents plus rental projections giving this property an 8.8% cap rate, this is a special turnkey investment property
which can immediately start cash flowing.
Want To Learn More About This Property?
Map Of 3 Main St
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The Barn
The artfully renovated first floor of the barn offers 4,800 square feet of versatile leasable space, directly accessible from the street and protected by a covered porch. This space can be subdivided into as many as four distinct retail storefronts and has plumbing stubbed out. Featuring concrete floors and abundant windows throughout, the space is designed to provide a modern yet rustic charm, ideal for a variety of businesses and ready for build-out based upon their own unique use. Retail space market value is currently leasing between $18-25/sq ft in comparable spaces.
The Event Space
This space has been meticulously restored and preserved, to keep as much of the original barn as possible. Originally designed as a receiving platform to load and unload coal, grain, and lumber from the passing train, the large doors that once perfectly aligned with freight cars are still intact. The timbers in the loft are charred black from two fires, one in 1956 and one in 1972. In both cases, the fire was extinguished before it caused structural damage. The result is a stunning charred finish that is naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and insects. The Japanese call this ancient finishing technique shou sugi ban, and the result is stunningly unique. The structure has been evaluated by structural engineers, architects, and timber specialists, is sound and in excellent structural condition, with little to no sagging or deflection.
When designing the overhead lighting for the soaring 20” tall ceilings, the motto went “as above, so below”. The owners worked with recent astrophysics graduate Rhys Manley to establish a corollary between apparent star magnitude — a measure of size, distance, and brightness of a star — and light fixture sizes, heights, and brightness. The result is a dreamy constellation of Polaris, Ursa Minor, and neighboring stars, suspended at various heights creating a breathtaking magical atmosphere. Event space market value is $10,000 per event.
When designing the overhead lighting for the soaring 20” tall ceilings, the motto went “as above, so below”. The owners worked with recent astrophysics graduate Rhys Manley to establish a corollary between apparent star magnitude — a measure of size, distance, and brightness of a star — and light fixture sizes, heights, and brightness. The result is a dreamy constellation of Polaris, Ursa Minor, and neighboring stars, suspended at various heights creating a breathtaking magical atmosphere. Event space market value is $10,000 per event.
Vitsky Bakery
Occupying the market and kitchen space is the cornerstone tenant, Vitsky Bakery. Beloved by locals and tourists alike, people travel near and far just to get their hands on one of their famous cardamom buns. Lines can often be seen wrapping around the block, a testament not only to the success of the bakery but also of the area’s potential. Vitsky Bakery is currently operating on a month to month lease at $2400/month rate.
The market was designed with a high-end coffee service in mind. Custom cabinetry, flexible and adaptable shelving, and high-end commercial appliances, including a high-temperature dishwasher, built-in ice maker, reach-in drink cooler with glass door, and dedicated electrical and plumbing connections for a commercial espresso machine were thoughtfully installed. Standout features also include new double insulated windows, sonos speaker sound system, and a custom fabricated Alaskan yellow cedar front door. Cabinetry, paneling, and millwork was all designed by Matthew Schnepf, and custom fabricated by master carpenters.
The kitchen space includes extensive wiring and dedicated circuits for high-output appliances, a three-compartment sink with a hand spray, a vegetable wash sink, and a grease trap. Appliances include two True stainless steel reach-in refrigerators and one True stainless steel reach-in freezer. The outside storage shed holds extra storage space, as well as a 12x6 Coolbot Pro walk-in cooler.
Location & History
Occupying the market and kitchen space is the cornerstone tenant, The oldest portion of the barn was built in 1920 by the Willson & Eaton Company as a storage
warehouse serving freight trains running between New York City and destinations further north. In
the mid-1940s, the barn was converted into a dairy facility, and over time, became a holding barn
for weekly livestock auctions, creating a festival-like atmosphere that attracted visitors from New
York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and beyond.
While freight service and auctions are no longer running here, the passenger train is still alive
and thriving! The “big green barn” as it’s colloquially known, is conveniently situated at the end
of Main Street- adjacent to the Amenia Stream. Wassaic, a hamlet located within the Town of Amenia
in Dutchess County, is located just two hours north of Manhattan by car or train. Wassaic is a
popular destination for visitors due to its easy accessibility, and being the last stop on
Metro-North's Harlem line- which runs every two hours, seven days a week, throughout the year. The
Wassaic train station is also accessible by foot or bike via the recently completed Harlem Valley Rail
Trail, which extends another 46 miles north passing through Amenia, Millerton, and Copake.
Artists and creatives have begun to flock to the area with the establishment of the Wassaic
Project, founded in 2008 as an artist residency program for emerging artists and also
participates in Upstate Art Weekend, along with many other
organizations and culinary institutions.
Situated along Route 22 (NY 343), a key roadway connecting upstate to New York City, Wassaic is
centrally located between the well-established towns of Amenia, Millbrook, Millerton, Kent, Sharon,
and West Cornwall. Residents frequently travel between these communities for work, dining,
entertainment, and shopping. Check out our local guide to the area to see all of the
businesses we absolutely love!
The barn in the 1920s. The original Borden Condensed Milk factory is in the background. *Photograph provided by Jeff Barnett-Winsby
Schedule a Viewing
If you would like more information or to take a look, please reach out to Kate Quintard for more information and to schedule a showing.
