HERKIMER, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Community Market and Stone Soup American Bistro & Beer Garden are collaborating for a vibrant block party on July 26, 2025, marking a significant expansion of the market while raising funds and awareness for mental health.
The event, dubbed “Motor Heads for Mental Health Awareness,” will transform Main Street into a hub of classic cars, live music, family activities, and community resources from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Joe Chilelli, owner of the Mohawk Valley Community Market, explained that the celebration stems from his business’s growth into the former Wakefield Furniture building.
“We started basically as a brand expansion of the mall, got a community market and renewed interest,” Chilelli said. “Both businesses are expanding to the first floor of the former Wakefield Furniture. … We’re taking the majority of that space and continuing the market more so in the area of an antique or vintage furniture area showroom.”
The expansion adds approximately 7000 square feet of space, including a new area featuring vintage and antique furniture on the first floor and a second-floor showroom accessible by appointment only.
Chilelli noted the irony of the move, echoing history from a century ago: “About 100 years ago, when Mr. Munger built this, he expanded into that building and the same location that we’re doing now. So it’s very ironic. One hundred years later or so, we’re doing something very similar.”
To kick off the festivities, the market will embrace a “Christmas in July” theme. Santa and his elves will visit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a children’s book reading at noon on the lower level, and gifts will be available for attending children.
Author Tom Lee Johnson will sign copies of his book, “The Mercantile Palace of HG Munger,” upstairs in the furniture area starting at 11 a.m.
The partially reopened Munger’s 1918 Luncheonette will offer free cannolis with any purchase, such as coffee, while supplies last. Vendor discounts will be available throughout the store, which remains open until 4:30 p.m.
Robert Nam Cirillo, owner of Stone Soup American Bistro & Beer Garden, expanded the idea into a full block party after Chilelli’s initial plans.
“Initially, Joe had come up to me about trying to do something for his grand reopening of his other side of Munger’s,” Cirillo said. “And then, my bartender also brought up to me that maybe we should have a band play for July. Host a Saturday band event in July to raise awareness for mental health. So then I thought, I’d rather go big or go home. I said, Why don’t we do a block party?”
Cirillo reached out to local contacts, including Liz Hoffman at Herkimer Next, to tie the event to a charitable cause. Proceeds will benefit the Christopher Newtown Foundation, named for a CVS student who struggled with mental health.
“He was a student at Frankfort, and his mother’s a teacher in Frankfort,” Cirillo said. “So I contacted her, and so I got the ball rolling on that.”
The block party will feature a classic car show, motorcycle groups, and unique displays, including a dump truck from Mike Massaro and a yellow Corvette showcased by Steve Ponte. A 50-foot inflatable obstacle course will entertain kids, while eight social work groups set up booths to provide mental health resources.
Food trucks, vendors, and live bands will perform on Main Street starting at 2 p.m. After 4:30 p.m., activities shift to Stone Soup’s beer garden, where country singer Matt Chase will perform from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Chilelli emphasized the collaborative spirit: “Once we talked it over with Robbie next door from the Stone, … he took it upon himself to get involved and see if he could shut down the street and make it a bigger event.”
He added that the event aims to draw new visitors: “We get people who didn’t know we were here, you know, and it’s been years since we’re here.”
Cirillo acknowledged the challenges of a first-time event but remained optimistic: “I don’t know how many we’ll get for a turnout. You know, it’s the first time around, but you’ve got to start somewhere.”
He hopes it will revive community traditions, such as past Diamond Days and village parades in Herkimer.
For more details, visit the Mohawk Valley Community Market on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MohawkValleyCommunityMarket or learn about Stone Soup American Bistro & Beer Garden at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573387719505.
The event is free and open to the public, encouraging all to join in the celebration of local business growth and mental health support.
Discover more from The Daily Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
