Main Street Of Brockport, NY
20 minutes from our home is a cute college town called Brockport, NY
Home to the State University of NY at Brockport.
Historical buildings run up and down this quaint town making it all but sleepy.
The picture above is a large independent bookstore with a beautiful mural painted above it.
Yes, you heard me correctly, an independent bookstore. They do still exist. During our visit they had a local author signing her latest book about the Erie Canal.
Speaking of the Erie Canal, Brockport is one of many towns that dot the canal shoreline.
The Erie Canal Running Through Downtown Brockport, NY
While strolling we came across a blast from the past.
Brockport is also home to the famous Strand Theater. Built in 1907 it’s one of Monroe Counties (the county we live in) oldest and still operational theaters.
The Famous Strand Theater In Brockport, NY
In David’s previous life he used to build websites. Well, back in 1993 Java Junction was a new start up trying to get the word out about their new coffee shop. So David created and hosted a website for them. Funny thing about that. As payment and because they were a start up, David bartered his work for them.
True story. Every month David hosted and ran their website, he would go into the shop and collect his “payment”, coffee in 5lb bags. Yup, he was a coffee connoisseur even back then.
Java Junction On Main Street In Brockport, NY
Once we saw that Java Junction was still around, we had to go in. I must say, things have not changed, other than them adding lunch selections. And at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, it was a busy lunch spot.
They still have their own roaster in the back that they roast their own beans. They still have some of the same people working their. The owner saw David and instantly recognized him as the guy that created their first website. Now that’s a memory!
What a blast. And as David put it, what a good cup of coffee!
Good to know their are still independent coffee shops and bookstores out their not only surviving but thriving in this day and age of chain stores.
Let’s all try to visit an independent shop at least once a week and keep this economy going for the little guy!
David Checking Out The Selection At Java Junction
Love Brockport! Love the Erie Canal! And love the fact that David built a site for payment in coffee. :)