NARROWSBURG, NY — Nick and Laura Santana and their crew of construction workers are moving through the last of the punch list. The iconic Rasmussen & Sons building on Main Street has been reborn as the Shops at Narrowsburg.

The Shops sits on the banks of the Upper Delaware River and has wide views of the Big Eddy. The Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 20. So far, the tenants include:

• Vive La Cigogne!, a French bistro, which opened a second location of its Brooklyn restaurant of the same name;
• The Herbal Scoop, a tea shop formerly located in Callicoon;
• 2 Queens Coffee, a café formerly located at Pete’s Plaza on Kirk Road; 
• Velvet Maple, a home decor and clothing shop now maintaining two Main Street locations; and
• Norman and Jules, a children’s clothing and toy store.

The building was originally built by Neil (NP) Rasmussen and first opened in April 1926; the adjacent funeral parlor (now 2 Queens) was added in July 1953.

On May 18, 2018, a fire broke out in the building, reportedly starting right after the electricity to the building was restored. It knocked out the town’s electricity for three days. 

A series of decks in the back of the building overlooks the Big Eddy, the deepest point of the Upper Delaware River, offering outdoor seating to go with the unmatched scenic views. The independently owned shops are connected by wide hallways, and are handicapped-accessible via an elevator. 

One firefighter called the building renovation “impressive” following a July 18 walk-through by the Narrowsburg Fire Department.

Four apartments will be developed on the top floor.