The owner of Pawling’s fabled Town Crier Café toured the Walden United Methodist Church last week, in search of a new home. “There are quite a few possibilities,” said Phil Ciganer, owner of the Towne Crier Café in Pawling.

The Towne Crier Café, which is celebrating its 40th year in business, was advised recently that their building had been listed for sale. Their lease had expired and after 23 years at their location, they were in a scramble to find a new home.

Ciganer stated their last day was originally supposed to be this past Sunday, however they have since worked out an arrangement allowing them to stay on in their location on a month-to-month basis until they find a new location. If the property sells, the Towne Crier will have 30 days to vacate.

“Since November 1972, the Towne Crier Café has presented the finest in live folk, jazz, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, cajun, zydeco, roots and world music,” notes the café’s website, adding that it has been a venue for talent such as “ Rosanne Cash, Alison Krauss, Arlo Guthrie, Lucinda Williams, Don McLean, Richie Havens, Livingston Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Pete Seeger, Suzanne Vega, Leon Redbone and many, many more.”

Ciganer accepted an invitation and met with Village of Walden officials and members of the Walden business community at Village Hall last week.

The landmark Walden Church has been on the market for four years, since the congregation voted to sell the property, and build a new church on the outskirts of town.

Walden Mayor Brian Maher said their meeting went very well as they took Ciganer on a tour of the village including the parks, neighborhoods and proposed site for the outdoor amphitheatre, all while discussing Walden’s history, diversity, community spirit and growing community for the arts.

“We believe bringing the Towne Crier to Walden would be a great step forward in our efforts to brand our village as a community for the arts,” said Maher. “We continue to work hard every day as a village to recruit new businesses. The Towne Crier is the type of business that would draw more businesses through its presence alone.”

Ciganer said Maher and the Village of Walden aren’t alone in their assessment as the business has been fielding invitations from many other counties and towns, hoping to bring the Towne Crier to their communities.

Ciganer stated that they have not yet made a decision on a new location, as they are in the preliminary stages, visiting different locations and exploring “promising opportunities.”

By Rachel Coleman
rcoleman@tcnewspapers.com