The Crafted Kup Unveils Expanded, Renovated Space

The coffee shop at the heart of Poughkeepsie's Arlington district underwent a facelift and expansion this month. The Crafted Kup, located at 44 Raymond Avenue, nearly tripled its seating and showed off a hip, modern decor with the renovation.

"The previous aesthetic was not mine and I wanted to make some updates to it, but I also knew we needed more seats," said owner Tanner Townsend, who purchased The Crafted Kup three years ago.

The store opened almost a decade ago at the site, which sits across from the Arlington Post Office and down the block from Vassar College.

"The Crafted Kup is unique," Arlington Business Improvement District Director Robert Legacy said. "It's a center point for many people to have their meetings here and especially for bringing the Vassar students off campus."

Townsend said he used to see customers walk out on a regular basis because of the lack of available seating. The Crafted Kup has gone from 24 seats to 68, many of which were built by Townsend.

The new space includes a small stage for live events.

"The plan is to do open mic once a week. I'd like to do a night of spoken word and then also book some local singer-songwriter-type acts," Townsend said.

His plans for The Crafted Kup's future go beyond the aesthetic. He said he has plans to expand the eatery's menus to include breakfast sandwiches, soups and salads as well as beers on tap and wine by the glass.