Owner Torched Restaurant, Historic Landmark: DA

The owner of the mid-Hudson Valley's historic Blue Store restaurant is accused of burning it down this spring.

The Blue Store sits—or sat—in a region filled with history, beauty and food about 80 minutes from Westchester. Hyde Park, riverfront mansions, the Culinary Institute of America, Red Hook and Rhinebeck craft fairs and bed & breakfasts are all destinations for day or weekend trips from New York City. 

Yesterday the New York State Police and the Columbia County District Attorney, Paul Czajka, announced that the restaurant's proprietor has been charged with arson. 

The fire was reported at about 1:45 a.m. March 15, shortly after the restaurant closed, police said. Livingston fire officials called the state police and the county's Cause and Origin team in before the fire was even out. 

After a 4-month investigation, Darrin J. Buffa, the proprietor, was indicted by a grand jury on one count of third-degree arson, a felony. 

Buffa, 40, was arrested and arraigned July 22 in front of the Hon. Richard Koweek in Columbia County Court and released on $60,000 bond. 

Anyone with information related to the investigation or arrest is asked to contact SP Livingston BCI Inv. Eric Barnes at 518-851-2894.