The Newburgh City Council voted unanimously on Monday, September 9, to approve a nearly $84,000 settlement to avoid a foreclosure on 5 Grand Street, the location of Newburgh Art Supply, an art store and also the home of Michael Gabor, who owns the store.

Around mid-August, Gabor publicly announced that his home and store were facing foreclosure by the city. The store has become a staple in the neighborhood and the city, first opening in 2008. Gabor and his business and life partner Gerardo Castro ran the store together. Since 2008, Castro and Gabor worked to support and foster the growing arts community in the city.

Castro passed away at the age of 56 this past spring, and with Castro’s passing and the foreclosure looming, Gabor was unsure of what would happen if he was not able to come up with the necessary funds to pay the back taxes he owed. Since the announcement, the weeks leading up to the vote have involved media coverage, donations of over $25,000 and shares and comments on social media. Due in part to that support, he was able to pay the city the sum of $83,957.08, per the settlement that was approved Monday night.

Through all of this, Gabor continued running the business as usual and preparing for the Open Studios tour later in September. Gabor and Castro founded the Open Studios Tour — an event that lets people see more than 100 of Newburgh’s artists in their creative spaces — 14 years ago.

Prior to Monday night, Gabor spoke about the recent events and said he has been grateful for the support.

“It has been an outpouring of community support. It’s been non-stop. Everywhere I go, people are cheering, you know, telling me they’re cheering for me, and it’s been very touching,” he said.

Friends and supporters of Gabor such as Judy Thomas, who started the GoFundMe for him, have helped in keeping the business open. Others who had never met Gabor before have also come to the store or have donated to alleviate his situation.

“I never expected we’d get anywhere near what we did get, and it was a really big help,” Gabor continued.

“The most interesting part was so many people who didn’t know who I was came in here because the story resonated with them. The community has said that what we [Gabor and Castro] have built here has been something of value to them.”

At the city council meeting on Monday night, comments came in support of Gabor and the business, asking the city to approve the resolution. “I just wanted to voice my support for Newburgh Art Supply,” said resident Brian Hersey. “I find that this particular place is a community hub, not just an art supply store, and this kind of place does not grow on trees. This kind of business is very difficult to even start in our current day and age, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

“I respectfully am asking that the council do whatever they can for Newburgh Art Supply. You all know Michael and Gerardo’s commitment to this city, and the good that they brought to this city is just exponential,” said Thomas Dodd. “Our homeowners and our small businesses desperately need your support.”

“Sixteen years ago was the opening day of Newburgh Art Supply. There are not enough businesses in the city that can claim being open for 16 years, way too few, and the list is actually getting smaller,” said resident Eric Jarmann, co-owner of Newburgh Mercantile on Broadway.

“I’m a resident of Newburgh town and a member of the Newburgh arts community and I want to speak in support of your doing anything possible to allow Michael Gabor’s business and home to remain his and to remind you that Newburgh Open Studios brings way more than the taxes that he’s already paid to the city, both in attention and in money and in visitors and it would be devastating to lose it,” said Daniel Georges.