In the final installment of a three-part series focusing on small businesses on Chatham, New York’s Main Street, contributor John Campbell speaks with Chris Knable, who not only has kept Main Street Goodness and Piconic running, he’s opened a completely new restaurant during this time, and has plans to open another!

JC: Chris, before I heard about you, I heard about your pies. I have friends from California to Brooklyn talking about your pies. Even my broker asked for your information. What’s the magic with Piconic pies?

CK: I think like with any food, we love what we do, and I think that translates very well, whether it’s in the baking, or the food itself. You’ve got to start with people in your kitchen that love what they do, and care for it. Then you add in great ingredients, and we are truly blessed to be where we are.

JC: Pies are just a piece of the pie when it comes to Main Street Goodness (pun intended), Can you share what other delicious delights you offer to your customers? Is everything made in house?

CK: Yes, everything is made in house. We try to make sure we have a little something for everyone, to make people feel comfortable coming every day, whether you’re coming with a carnivore or vegan. We’re not here to tell you what to eat and how to eat it. The spirit of the place is everything with anything. Sandwiches, wraps, soups, all made from scratch; we have biscuits, cookies, savory pies, vegan and gluten-free options too. We go where the customer wants us to go. We take a cue from someone who asks for a thing in a particular way, and then it could very well end up on our menu. We try to be good listeners as well so that we can adapt.

Christoher Knable

JC: How has business been for Main Street Goodness through COVID-19, and what motivated you to get back out to servicing the community?

CK: In the early days, mid-March through April, it was scary. We didn’t know if we were going to be around, if our customers were coming back. Business basically dropped down to nothing. But I am by nature a positive thinker, and I felt like we had to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and that we would get through it. I was reflecting on 9/11. I managed a hotel outside of Ground Zero, and that was a moment where you didn’t know what was going to happen. It was catastrophic and we were the only hotel in lower Manhattan that didn’t close, serving the greater community, first responders, rescuers that needed to eat or sleep. That was in the back of my mind through this time. But I’ve always been one to believe that better days are coming, and if you can soldier through it, then things will take care of itself.

JC: I’ve noticed a lot of teenagers and even young kids with their parents frequenting your area outside and enjoying their lunch at Main Street Goodness. What goes through your mind when you see the community showing up?

CK: Oh man, I say sometimes that I consider every customer that walks through the door a mini miracle. They are a blessing, because someone had to make a conscious choice to choose your business over others. I am super grateful. Yes we do work hard, and I’m nothing without the people who work here, but there’s an alchemy with having workers who are super friendly that really care, and giving them the tools and support to take care of people. Our customers really feel that.

JC: Do you offer delivery, or curbside pickup options, and where can we find out more about Main Street Goodness?

CK: We are active on social media, Facebook and Instagram​, and can be reach by email. If you want to come in to the counter, come on in, if you want to order and pay online, you can do that, If you want us to bring it to the curb, we will do that. If you want to come in when you feel safer when things feel better for you, we understand that. Actually, I opened another restaurant since this all started called The Columbia Grill, which is a steakhouse at the Columbia Golf & Country Club in Clavarack. I’m also opening a restaurant in Hudson on Warren Street before the end of the year — announcements coming soon. It will be a Middle Eastern restaurant. I think we’re very social beings, people will always want to eat out, maybe not in the same way as we did, but the oldest interface in the world is two people breaking bread together, and I don’t think that will ever change.

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Berkshire Food Co-op