rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
LEROY — A&A Country Market is proud to announce an addition to their store - a cafe, located in the back of the convenience store on Route 414, just outside of LeRoy.
A&A Country Market opened in December of 2020. Owners Niki Castle and Billy Watts opened the convenience store and named it after their daughters, Abbey and Allyson (A&A), who also help at the store.
“When we first opened, we always intended to do something in this space,” said Owner Niki Castle.
Castle said her dream was always to have a coffee shop.
“Over the winter, we started (renovations). I’ve always wanted a coffee shop and I’ve always thought there’s really no place for ice cream (in LeRoy),” said Castle.
The Cafe features iced coffee, bubble teas, ice cream, milk shakes and so much more.
“The bubble tea and lemonade are for Abbey and Ally,” said Castle. “That was their one request if we added on back here.”
Customers even have the option to make their own soda.
“Any of the flavors that we have for the bubble tea or lemonade, we can turn it into a soda. The kids think that’s fun to be able to do,” said Castle.
There are also coffee drinks that they are working on as well.
“We can’t yet make anything with an espresso shot or anything, so we’ve been making these drinks, it’s like a latte, but we’re not calling it that because we’re not steaming the milk, so Desi (an employee) named it a La-te-da,” Castle chuckled. “We’re doing different flavors, like this week, we have a smores flavored drink. We keep trying to expand that. We have a peppermint patty flavor ready to go, a white peppermint that we keep doing. We just keep adding to the (list of) drinks.”
Hours for the Cafe run in conjunction with the store hours, but Castle says the hours will probably be longer during the summer.
“Right now, we are here until 8 p.m.,” said Castle, also noting that they are happy to help serve local ball teams who are seeking a refreshment or ice cream after a game.
In the back of the building, patrons will eventually find an ice cream window for service as well as a sitting area for patrons - indoors or outdoors.
“We’ll eventually have a sitting area outside. Currently, cornhole boards are being made and we are considering doing a league at some point,” said Owner Billy Watts. “We put some astroturf out there that came from a professional football field, just for something for kids to play on,” said Watts. “We’d also like to eventually have car and motorcycle shows.”
Spring decor is also out now for sale in the Cafe, as well as A&A Country Market apparel.
“Everything that we are getting and bringing in is from somewhere in Pennsylvania,” said Castle.
Abby and Allie make the earrings for sale, hanging on the back wall, as well as other local artisans are featured in the corner of the Cafe.
“The purpose was so that if someone needed a quick gift, so they could come in and find something fun and unique. We’ve been doing gift baskets. We plan to have some out for Mother’s Day. We have more Mother’s Day ‘thankful you’re my mom’ kind of stuff, just to kind of add another fun area for people to come in and give them something to look at,” said Castle.
Watts has also been collecting antiques and bringing them in.
Unique is what Castle and Watts were aiming for when they designed the room as well, with Castle noting that the tin for the counter came from her aunt’s barn.
“It’s all very family-oriented. The girls both had input (on design), my dad and mom helped with stuff. Our flooring we got locally.”
Castle’s father had also worked very hard on the sitting area, making the counters by hand. They said they are very thankful to have such a supportive family and are happy to have a supporting community as well patronizing their store as well as now the Cafe.
“We’re just trying to support everyone else as they support us,” said Castle.
“We go to Baldwins Hardware (to shop) and try stay local (with purchases). We want everyone else to shop locally as well,” said Watts.
Castle and Watts have big plans in the future for the building and beyond.
“People have come in and asked for baking supplies even, so now we have those in the store (upfront),” said Castle, noting that the two have discussed putting in a produce section into the building.
“We really just want to be here for the community,” they both said.
“It’s a lot of fun interacting with the community,” said Watts. “We treat everyone like family. We enjoy talking to and joking around (with our customers).”
At this time, the Cafe is cash-only and Castle and Watts are happy to help serve the local community, along with their staff of 15 people.
For more information about the new cafe or for updated hours, find them on Facebook or call 570-364-6633. Their phone number is 570-364-6633.