The Freehold Country Store - a REAL Deli

FREEHOLD — Pssst... Long Island & NYC Tourists... Looking For A REAL Deli?

Alright, c'mere for a second. I'm only gonna tell you this once.

If you're up here vacationing in the Catskills from Long Island or New York City, you've probably already figured out where to get a good steak dinner, maybe found a nice country restaurant, and somebody has definitely pointed you toward pizza.

But nobody ever tells you where to find the Deli! And up here there ain't that many.

You know exactly what I'm talking about.

Back home, a deli isn't just a place to grab food. It's part of the neighborhood. It's where the grill is already sizzling before sunrise, where the coffee's hot, where the cook knows what "lightly toasted" means, and where you don't have to explain what a BECSPK is. If you don't know... just ask somebody from Long Island or NYC. They'll smile and translate.

When I moved from Long Island to Greene County, I spent nearly two years on the hunt. I tried places all over. No offense to anybody, but a supermarket sub just isn't the same thing.

Then one afternoon, after looking at what would become my home in Freehold, I wandered into the Freehold Country Store.

The moment I opened the door, I knew this place was different.

It had that old-school country general store feeling that reminded me of places I have been to on Vacation, in Lake George or Old Forge. The kind of place where folks still smile when you walk in, where the shelves are stocked with local goodies, handmade crafts, old-fashioned snacks, and the kind of charm you just can't manufacture.

That's when I met Marysol, who was the manager back then. Today, she and her husband Jose own the business, and together with their two daughters and a genuinely friendly staff, they've turned it into one of those places that makes you feel like you've been coming there your whole life.

Yeah, yeah, I hear ya... "that's nice, LJ... but how's the food?"

Forget about it.

The first hero I ordered was simple... ham, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, a little onion, mayo. Nothing fancy. Just done right.

One bite.

That was it.

I truly remember thinking, "I found my new home."

And mornings?

Oh Yeah...

They make a real Bacon, Egg & Cheese. Not some sad imitation. The real deal. In fact, they've won awards for both their breakfast sandwiches and their heroes.

Now I'm probably gonna catch a little heat from the locals for giving away one of Greene County's best-kept secrets. I can already hear them...

"Hey, LJ! Why'd ya have to tell everybody?"

Because I had to stay true to who I am and my people.

When you're from Long Island or New York City, and you find a deli that brings you right back home while somehow fitting perfectly into the Catskill Mountain area, you don't keep that to yourself.

So if you're spending some time up here on vacation, and you wake up craving a real breakfast sandwich, or you're looking for a hero that'll remind you of the neighborhood deli you grew up with, punch this into your GPS:

Freehold Country Store

3666 State Route 67

Freehold, NY 12431

Right on the corner of Route 32.

Just don't tell too many people I told you.

And when you walk through that front door, tell Marysol, Jose, and the crew that your Bro LJ James sent ya.

I'll see you around the Mountain.