Local

Grand Opening Celebration of Crab-A-Bag Restaurant

Dec 15, 2021

Crab-A-Bag held its Grand Opening Saturday afternoon. Here guests, including several political dignitaries, pose for a photo after owners, Tiffany and Ronnie Maisonet officially cut the ribbon, opening its 85 Liberty Street in the City of Newburgh restaurant, featuring fresh ethnic seasoned seafood as well as Puerto Rican specials. The family owned and operated business has been a long time in coming and all involved are super excited to welcome the public into their special space.

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – Tiffany Maisonet finally took a deep sigh of relief Saturday afternoon and smiled big, as she fully absorbed the magnitude of the day.

The Cornwall resident Maisonet, along with her husband Ronnie, co-owners of the new restaurant, Crab-A-Bag, located on 85 Liberty Street in the City of Newburgh have been on a long journey for the past two years. After purchasing their location just prior to the Pandemic’s onset, the couple immediately set out to completely renovate the former flower shop. The fruits of their diligent efforts, fueled by family and love, were finally celebrated on December 11, 2021 with a Grand Opening ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I’ve been nervous ever since we had our soft opening last weekend because I want so much for this place to be successful for my family, especially my children, who I want to take it over some day,” said Tiffany, who further explained about the potent love and care that permeate everything done at the restaurant. “Today is finally here after almost two years of starting this, and I’m so excited because I really do think we are going to be successful.”

Saturday afternoon, Crab-A-Bag, located on 85 Liberty Street in the City of Newburgh, held it's Grand Opening. The family-owned and operated business will feature fresh, authentic seafood with a Spanish flair as well as Puerto Rican food specials. Pictured are one of the co-owners, Tiffany Maisonet, along with her children. Not pictured is Tiffany's husband and co-owner, Ronnie, who was hard at work cooking in the kitchen, — Saturday afternoon, Crab-A-Bag, located on 85 Liberty Street in the City of Newburgh, held it’s Grand Opening. The family-owned and operated business will feature fresh, authentic seafood with a Spanish flair as well as Puerto Rican food specials. Pictured are one of the co-owners, Tiffany Maisonet, along with her children. Not pictured is Tiffany’s husband and co-owner, Ronnie, who was hard at work cooking in the kitchen,

Much of that belief in success lies in the entirely family-operated team, including her children, uncles, grandparents and more. The unique menu offerings provide both Tiffany and her husband, who does much of the cooking, with further confidence. With items such as boiled bags of seafood, fried seafood, combos and an assortment of side dishes, along with daily Puerto Rican offerings, Crab-A-Bag features all fresh, homemade food concocted from long-standing family recipes, much of it enhanced by tasty Latin spices.

The interior space of the restaurant also reveals a special vibe. Intent on creating a City Island type of ambience in the City of Newburgh, the Maisonets wanted not only the food they served to be authentic, but so too the setting. Sporting blue-hued walls to provide a marine appeal, Crab-A-Bag also has sea creatures depicted on its walls as well as a television screen, located behind the front register, continually streaming underwater images. A front entrance fish tank as well as outdoor porch area, providing movie nights while customers dine is also in the works.

“I’m not trying to be anyone else,” explained Mainsonet. “I just want to be me, and make this place really great for everyone who comes here.”

For now, most all who indulge in the Crab-A-Bag morsels will have to do it on a takeout basis. There are a couple of tables available in the front area; however, with word of the sumptuous food starting to spread and the ordering pace rapidly increasing, their availability cannot be guaranteed.

After all, it hasn’t just been the Maisonet’s who have been eagerly awaiting Saturday’s Opening.

“I have been walking by here, and looking forward so much to this place opening for a very long time,” said a joyful Kevindaryan Lujan, Orange County Legislator for Newburgh-District 4, who was on hand, along with City of Newburgh Mayor, Torrance Harvey, at the Opening.

“We are always so happy to have new businesses come here to Newburgh, and we are all looking forward to having some really great food and times here at this one.”

Crab-A-Bag is open from Tuesday-Thursday from 12-9, Friday 12-10 and Saturday and Sunday 12-9. You can reach them at: (845) 784-4082. You can also check out photos and videos of their dishes on Instagram at: @crab.a.bag.