New restaurant considers former McDonald’s location

Pending approval from the Planning Board, the former site of McDonald’s on Route 44 in Millerton has been proposed as the new home of Tallow, an alternative to traditional fast-food.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

New restaurant considers former McDonald’s location

MILLERTON — After a vacancy of over eight years, the former McDonald’s building on Route 44 may soon have a new occupant in Tallow, a nutrient-conscious eatery that hopes to be in construction by the spring.

As for its former occupant, McDonald’s is not expected to return to the area. The closest McDonald’s is located in Canaan, Connecticut, about 14 miles away. The next closest McDonald’s is in Dover Plains.

Millerton is expected to be Tallow’s first location. On its website, it bills itself as “fast food that is actually good for you.

“The problem that we’re trying to solve is to regenerate health in people,” said co-founder Austin Cornell. “How we’re doing it is very simply to just source real ingredients from local regenerative farms to get the most nutrient-dense food as possible into those who really need it most.”

As fast-food pricing continues to rise, customers are now paying more money for lesser ingredients. According to Tallow’s website, its smashburger will be priced at $18. Though a notch above fast food prices, the ingredients are of a higher standard than many fast-food restaurants, and it is priced lower than many farm-to-table eateries in the region. “We’re serving burgers and grilled cheese and chicken sandwiches and a few other things,” Cornell said. “A very simple menu with the most nutrient-dense, pesticide-free, highest-quality ingredients we can find locally.”

According to Tallow’s website, highly processed vegetable oils which come from plant seeds — corn, sunflower, canola, etc. — make up 30% of American calories. Around 1990, many fast food chains switched from frying food in tallow — animal fat — to seed oils in order to save money. Tallow plans to utilize local ingredients, regeneratively sourced meats, chemical-free produce and will fry its food in 100 percent grass-fed beef tallow.

Nate Long, co-founder and head chef, previously worked at The Inn at Little Washington in Virginia, a Michelin three-star restaurant, under Chef Patrick O’Connell. Long has butchered for the Organic Butcher of McLean, Va,. which was listed as the top butcher shop in America in USA Today. As an independent chef, Long creates elaborate six-course menus for private dinner clients. “I’ve recruited a co-founder who has 10 years experience in the food industry. He’s a chef trained down in Virginia,” said Cornell. “And is coming on board to run, to really run the menu, and to lead the team in the kitchen.”

Cornell struggled with obesity and chronic fatigue as a teenager, and was working to improve his health while growing up. After trying “every fad diet,” he decided to cut out processed foods and worked with a personal trainer, losing 60 pounds as a result. “This experience taught me two vital lessons: anything is possible, and a real food diet is essential to health,” as Cornell explained on Tallow’s website. “In recent years, I’ve learned about the toxicity of our food system, the misleading advice from so-called health ‘experts,’ and what’s truly necessary for health.”

To help build customer loyalty, Tallow is creating a paid membership program for in-store discounts, community events and bi-weekly Sunday six-course dinners. Cornell hopes to bring the site proposal to the Planning Board by mid-February with an aim for construction to begin in March. “We have such great farms around us,” Cornell said. ”Some of the best regenerative farms that I’ve visited are within a 15-20 minute radius…If anyone locally would be interested in supporting the mission, that is my main goal right now.”

Latest News

Pine Plains Bombers take home Section IX title

Michelle Blackburn, no. 12 of Pine Plains, helped lead the Bombers to victory over S.S. Seward Institute as point guard for most of the Section IX Class C tournament finals at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., on Wednesday, March 5. The Bombers took home the title after winning the hard-fought game 55-42.

Photo by Nathan Miller

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — The Pine Plains girls varsity Bombers won the Section IX Class C girls tournament Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.

The Bombers took an early lead against S.S. Seward's Spartans and didn't let off the throttle for the rest of the night, wining the game 55-42.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sign-ups encouraged for 2025 Webutuck Little League

Ben Coon, 10, on the “mound,” practiced his pitching on Tuesday, March 4, in the Webutuck Elementary School gym, with Coach Colby Dunlop, left, giving pointers.

Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — The 2025 Webutuck Little League season is around the corner and the League said players are still needed to fill out teams for games to be played in Millerton and Amenia.

Registration remains open for T-ball, majors, minors, seniors and girls’ softball teams. Some scholarships are available to cover costs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement

We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.

There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Social Security funding cuts to impact Poughkeepsie office

POUGHKEEPSIE — In a letter directed to Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration, on Feb. 27, New York State attorney general Letitia James emphasized the consequences of downsizing services at their Poughkeepsie office.

On the heels of the news at the Poughkeepsie location, the social security office in White Plains is scheduled to close. Westchester officials have been weighing a plan to offer a county-owned location in a bid to preserve the office.

Keep ReadingShow less