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"Simple Roast Coffee Co., known for the lines of cars its kiosks draw on each end of the city, is now drawing lines of people to its newest location in the heart of downtown.
The Auburn coffee company on Monday opened Roast & Toast, a café by day and a cocktail bar by night. Located at 99 Genesee St., the business has been met with "overwhelmingly positive feedback," Simple Roast owner Matt Peirson told The Citizen there Thursday. The response continues the strong hometown support he's received since opening his first kiosk in Grant Avenue Plaza in 2016.
"It feels very good, like something out of a movie," he said. "Everyone is coming out and just happy to see us and support us."
As its name suggests, Roast & Toast serves a menu of specialty toasts to go along with the company's morning beverages like coffee, hot chocolate and tea. Toasts include cinnamon sugar, avocado, peanut butter and banana, smoked apple and — Peirson's favorite — GCT. Short for Goat Cheese Toast, it includes that on sourdough with prosciutto and arugula, all drizzled with Mike's Hot Honey.
"I basically put that on the menu for myself because I just love it," Peirson said with a laugh.
The cafe closes at 2 p.m. daily. But on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Roast & Toast reopens at 5 p.m. with a drink menu of cocktails and more. Signatures include King of Hollywood, Simple Roast's twist on an old-fashioned, with brown sugar chai syrup. There's also wine and craft beer, mostly from New York state, and three cocktails are available as mocktails for non-alcoholic drinkers.
The nighttime food menu consists of grilled cheeses, as well as affogato and tiramisu for dessert.
Everything is served over a custom bar with a base of dark, fluted wood, whose design Peirson researched for hours. He said he's proud to see it every day, feeling it functions perfectly as both a coffee bar and a cocktail bar. The rest of Roast & Toast was designed to strike the same balance, including a lighting system that's warm and bright in the morning but more dim and intimate in the evening.
"It feels warm on a rain day to be in here," Peirson said of the café.
"Then it's also a very nice cocktail bar at night, a space you want to come and have a nice drink and some light food before you go to a show at Auburn Public Theater or The Rev (Theatre Co.)."
The bar was also the biggest piece of Roast & Toast, Peirson said. He arranged last fall to begin leasing the space Jan. 1 from owners Schulz Properties, who operated Rudolph's Sugar Shack there after renovating the historic building. That gave him time to line up contractors, and with little to do outside of adding a bathroom, he was able to open just a few months after announcing the business.
Still, after adding a third location and nine employees to a company that staffs about 35, Peirson said he's content to "enjoy the status quo" before thinking about his next expansion. Along with running those locations, he continues to roast 850 pounds of coffee beans a week. Many have asked him about bringing Simple Roast to new markets like Camillus, but that's not happening anytime soon.
Then again, he once said he would never open a café.
"People keep thanking me for opening up," he said of Roast & Toast, "and it's really funny because I'm so thankful that they care and want to come out.
If you go
WHAT: Roast & Toast
WHEN: Café open 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, cocktail bar open 5 to 11 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays
Looks like another small private college bites the dust in the area with this announcement from Wells College in Aurora(in between Auburn and Ithaca in Cayuga County): https://www.wells.edu/announcement-of-closure/
Also, related to the recent announcement of the closing of Wells College in Aurora, Wells College president's high bonuses revealed following closure announcement: https://cnycentral.com/amp/news/i-te...cial-struggles
"The Finger Lakes Drive-In plans to open this summer, as soon as June, despite having its entrance blockaded by the Cayuga Nation due to a property line dispute that's now in court.
The blockade, which effectively closes the Aurelius movie theater, was also recently mentioned in a separate court proceeding that involves drive-in owner Paul Meyer and the nation's leadership council.
On Wednesday, the drive-in posted on its Facebook page: "There are definite plans to open the drive-in this season; likely in June. We have been getting things ready. We may be shifting things around."
The drive-in might have to shift things around to open because the nation claims that its entrance, as well as several of its parking spots and about a third of its movie screen, are actually located on 1044 Clark St. Road next door. The nation purchased that property, assessed at $56,000, for $720,000 in January 2023. The nation has said it intends to place the property into federal trust.
After the nation brought the dispute to Cayuga County Supreme Court in January, the drive-in responded by asking for an injunction against the blockade. Meyer argued that his access to the neighboring property was protected by a 20-year lease he signed with the previous owner. He alleged the nation knew about the lease before the purchase, but the nation called the lease "invalid and unenforceable."
The nation has been ordered to show cause why the injunction should not be granted at a June 11 hearing. The nation's leadership council did not respond to a request for comment by The Citizen.
Meyer also did not respond to a request for comment. The drive-in's Facebook post noted the dispute but said, "I try to keep it non-political so I'll leave the conversation to what's been said here."
As the property dispute plays out in state court, another proceeding involving Meyer and the nation continues in federal court.
The drive-in owner is currently arguing for access to nation financial records in the leadership council's RICO lawsuit against him and Pipekeepers Tobacco & Gas in Montezuma. Meyer is a codefendant in the lawsuit, which accuses the smoke shop of stealing $5 million in business from the nation, because he sold the 7153 Route 90 property where it's located to operator Dusty Parker.
Parker and Meyer, who are being defended separately, each seek access to the financial records the nation used to calculate the $5 million figure. The nation, however, argues the records are attorney-client privileged information. Further, the nation continued, if Meyer was given access to them, he could not be trusted to "keep them locked away" from Parker due to their "ongoing relationship."
Despite Meyer's claim to the contrary, the nation said, evidence of that relationship can be seen on the video billboard in front of the drive-in, which has been running a Pipekeepers advertisement.
In response, Meyer attorney David Tennant argued that Pipekeepers is one of several advertisers who use the billboard, and such use does not show "direct participation in the competing businesses of the Parker defendants." Tennant then mentioned the nation's purchase of the property next to the drive-in and blockade of the business, calling its actions "tortious."
"It is the Nation that blurs the record and makes arguments unsupported by facts or law," he said."
"Auburn decorative artist Jesse Kline is curating an exhibition of works from the Schweinfurth Art Center’s collection, as well as creating a new installation featuring colorful apparel in response to the works, in an exhibition titled “Worth Mentioning.” The exhibit will be on view May 15 to 26.
The Schweinfurth will host an opening reception 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16. Kline will serve as disc jockey for the free event and will bring hats and other accessories for attendees to wear. She encourages people to dress in their favorite fun outfits; the dress code is extravagant.
“Jesse's collaboration has been so fun,” said Program Director Davana Robedee. “She is really great at pulling together these objects in a way that reflects her own artistic style and blends folk art, pop art, kitsch and fashion.”
The art center is not a collecting institution and has no formal “collection,” as many museums do. However, over the years many objects have come into the Schweinfurth’s possession. The center’s mission is primarily to feature the work of living artists; however, these objects were worth keeping and are absolutely “Worth Mentioning.”
Several paintings being featured are by George Shatzel, a Rochester native, decorated World War II veteran and sales representative for McCurdy & Co., a Rochester-based department store. Shatzel’s paintings feature scenes of daily life in a distinctive folk art style.
“The work created by folk artists have always appealed to my aesthetic sensibilities,” Kline said. “Particularly, the honest, graphic depictions of everyday life emit a raw energy that excites me, and brings into question, what is (fine) art, and who are we to judge?”
Other works included are by Fred Yehl, a Skaneateles native whose tempura paintings and illustrations feature stylized landscapes, houses and still lifes. He is known for his use of pattern, stark outlines and brilliant color. Kline selected works from Yehl’s “Aesop’s Fables” and “Alice in Wonderland” series.
“Who can resist being drawn to cute animals with big eyes?” she said. “Then add in Yehl’s artistic language of intricate detail, gorgeous patterns and sophisticated colors — I feel he is a master. The juxtaposition of these two artists viewed together makes for an interesting conversation and lively backdrop and inspiration for more creative endeavor.”
Kline has assembled unique outfits, complete with shoes and hats in some cases, that reflect the color and style inspiration of the artworks. Much of the clothing is from her collection, but she also includes pieces from the Schweinfurth.
“Fashion always presents a fun opportunity to express yourself. Yet some unique clothing pieces are works of art in their own right,” she said.
“The clothing and jewelry bequeathed to the art center by textile artist Priscilla Kibbee, who made these wearable art coats, fits that bill. Once again, the lush patterns, colors and skillful embroidery drive me wild! Shop the second floor pop-up so you too can make a fashion statement, and support the Schweinfurth.”
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