She has hired a chef and a baker who will be working on the premises. Look for fresh baguettes just out of the oven around 11:00 am. Baked goods made there will be supplemented with artisanal breads from Balthazar. “I plan to serve simple, top quality, healthy food that is organic and locally grown whenever possible. We will be highlighting local artisans who are making jams, honey and other food products. We’ll offer costeffective daily specials and free samples. It’s important to me to service everyone in the community. No matter what your income, people want value.”

At the moment Dianne is allowed to have 14 seats but hopes additional seating on the outside terrace will be permitted. “I look forward to creating a comfortable atmosphere that encourages great conversation,” she says.

Just inside the door, you’ll find the fresh baked bread and pastry section. There will be a deli section with soups, sandwiches and salads, a coffee stand and a veggie and fruit juice bar; there’s a grilling area for hamburgers, pizzas and such and a case with preheated take-home food. “We’ll have a case for the basics – milk, eggs (locally laid) and butter – and a bulletin board for people to post notices.” There will also be fresh flowers and penny candy.

Dianne, who currently lives in Demerest but plans to move to Palisades, had initially leased space in Edgewater, N.J. but it was declared a super fund site. Owner Bert Dorfman who, along with John Magee and Mitchell Klein own the gas station property, suggested she consider the 9W site. They had secured the necessary permits. “I was thrilled. I love the energy of the area. I would like to have saved the original building but it was too far gone. Rebuilding has allowed us to put in a full basement which is ideal for food preparation with ovens and refrigeration.” She has applied for a liquor license to sell regionally produced wine and liquor.

What’s in the future? As though all this isn’t enough to keep a woman busy, Dianne talks of establishing a website for bartering goods and services. “I think it will take awhile for the economy to come back and there are people who are stretched financially,” she says.

“I would like to plan hikes and picnics. Tallman Park has wonderful facilities and is underutilized.” She also has plans for senior citizen outings and programs for musicians, writers and artists.

“We’ll celebrate the holidays with pumpkins and gourds and hot cider for Thanksgiving. For Christmas we’ll have trees and wreathes and homemade items.” Home delivery is scheduled to start after the holidays and in the spring the shack will open with hamburgers, falafels, paninis, gelato and coffee. The Palisades Market will be open from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. It sounds like a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Welcome Dianne. Kathleen Sykes

History of the 9W Gas Station

Henry Kennell opened his first gas station in the 1920s on Carteret Road (Route 340), the primary north/south road at the time. When Route 9W was paved in 1927 becoming the leading thoroughfare, Kennell relocated his station across from the Rockland Country Club, moving it a bit south a few years later. There were several other stations on 9W. One, owned by Yassal Pollock, had a small bar and restaurant attached. It was located near the present IBM entrance. He opened another one on the opposite side to catch northbound traffic. Harold Post also ran a gas station just beyond Tippy’s antique shop (now Weleda).

Alice Gerard in her informative book, Palisades and Snedens Landing: The Twentieth Century, reports that Kennell lived at his station with his dog Sunshine until 1936 when he married and built a house across the street on the Heyhoe property. A number of locals owned cars but it was the weekends when traffic was heavy, especially after the George Washington Bridge opened in 1932. When the Depression came, Kennell sold hot dogs from a concession stand on the property. Then with gas rationing during World War II, he got by selling homegrown vegetables, fruit and flowers.

In 1947, Kennell started selling Indian Head motorcycles, continuing until the company went out of business in 1953. He only stopped selling gas in 1991 when it became too expensive to upgrade his tanks as required by the EPA according to local historian Alice Haagensen. The property was then leased to Mr. Khaled Elkady, a recent Egyptian immigrant, who sold falafels. Opening day he hired a belly dancer, Milbry Polk remembers; “It nearly caused a number of accidents.” The property was then leased to a car dealer.

Kennell’s son Henry Jr. bought back the lease because of complaints that old cars were scattered about the property. After 1973, numerous movies, TV shows and advertisers used the location. And now, with the new Palisades Market, it’s on to another chapter.