Innovative Marketplace And Multi-Use Space Opens In Peekskill

There aren’t many locations in Westchester quite like The Marketplace at the Flatz. Located in the 150-year-old Pugsley Building in downtown Peekskill, the space consists of a large ballroom connected to a café that holds art exhibitions and performances. On weekends the ballroom doubles as an indoor marketplace featuring area vendors selling food, crafts, and goods. The project was made possible by The Flatz, a Peekskill-based real estate company founded by Harvard-graduate Monica Flaherty.

“My vision for The Flatz, is that it’s an incubator space for creatives, the community, and the arts in and near Peekskill,” says Flaherty, whose company works to purchase, revitalize, and rent out historic local buildings. “We call ourselves ‘Purposeful Property Development.’ Our mission is to revitalize underutilized historic properties, and build spaces to support real community needs.”

With the wide breadth of cultural activities and retail prospects that the project offers, the Marketplace will likely prove a boon to Peekskill’s downtown economy. “This large ballroom connected to the café is a multipurpose space with rotating visual arts show and art performances, including, recently, six sold out shows of The Fantasticks,” explains Flaherty. “And on the weekends, we are now providing affordable booth space for artisans to sell their foods and crafts.”

The revitalization of the Pugsley building, a landmark Peekskill property, was a feat in its own right. “1008 Main Street is located in the heart of downtown Peekskill; it’s been neglected for a long time, and it’s a grand space,” says Flaherty. “Peekskill is similar. [The city] has great history, great architecture, and is growing more vibrant each month!”

This growth means a new influx of tenants for The Flatz, which has already filled or expects to fill many of its properties. “Most of our tenants are artists, musicians, performers and crafts people,” remarks Flaherty. “We are open to all businesses that are bringing positive value to our community, but we have a soft spot for the arts and artisans.”

The vendors featured at the new marketplace are a prime example of this soft spot. “The people who are succeeding in our marketplace are local vendors, with handmade arts and crafts and prepared foods,” says Flaherty. “Vendors with products that people can’t get in local stores, and want to replenish regularly are most successful.”

Flaherty hopes The Flatz will help revitalize this section of Peekskill, and will function as “a kind of community center, where people come to expect good food, community and arts.” Ahead, Flaherty hopes to host a speaker’s series featuring prominent locals discussing a range of topics. “We also want to host a ‘One Peekskill’ gala to help bring residents together on positive initiatives to move Peekskill forward in a fun, friendly party where people from different groups get to connect.”