Interview: Stacey Sonnelitter & Lock Keeper Coffeehouse
By: Mark C. Lloyd Feb. 16, 2020
A beautiful and unique coffeehouse with a beautiful and unique owner?
Yes! It sounds like perfection to me.
Let's meet Stacey.
MCL: When did your coffeehouse open?
SS: The coffee house opened during the holidays when friends and families are meeting together and visiting back home in late November 2019
MCL: Why did you decide on a coffeehouse?
SS: I decided on a coffee house because I wanted patrons to feel at home rather than at a shop. A home is your place to be you and relax, spend time with friends and family or tinker with your hobby.
MCL: How did you come up with the name?
SS: I give full credit to a friend for our name, Sean Conlin and I love the name still just as much if not even more. It's very fitting for what we embrace here.
MCL: Describe the atmosphere of the coffeehouse
SS: I am so thrilled with the atmosphere here. Yes, we placed the furniture and hung the light fixtures, but I am amazed, absolutely amazed with how friendly, kindhearted and wonderful our patrons have made the coffee house. The energy has been so positive and uplifting here. In all honesty, your home should be your safe place, your sanctuary and the kindness coming through our doors gives the coffee house it's life.
MCL: You have artist and writers present their work there. How did that come about?
SS: I give the credit of our creative life to the coffee house itself. It's very interesting at times when some things fit together like pieces of a puzzle - like they were meant to be. It's like the craft room was meant to be a craft room before it was a craft room. The book exchange library already had built in book shelves. The coffee bar was already there too but it was an office desk before... and when the idea of hanging art came up, I must admit, this place boasts very beautiful walls and ceilings for the purpose. I am very proud of how beautifully the art hangs on our walls, our curator Clare's talent and the culture of art within Lockport available to us for gallery rotations. It couldn't be a better fit intrinsically within the building and extrinsically among the community.
MCL: Who are some of the upcoming artists?
SS: Because of all the local talent available to us, we are proud to always have local authors and artists and we are delighted to hear from others who would like to participate. We also welcome groups / clubs to gather here such as a local writers club, business meetings, mother's clubs and crafters. Fine art rotations are every 4-6 weeks and local author book signing events are the last Sunday of every month.
MCL: How has the reception been to your unique place?
SS: I think the reception of the Lockkeeper is very well accepted within our community, but don't just take my word for it, you are welcome to please come and explore the Lockkeeper Coffee House yourself and see what it has to offer for you.
FOR MORE INFORMATION STACEY SONNELITTER & LOCK KEEPER COFFEEHOUSE:
Lock Keeper Coffee House
272 East Avenue
Lockport NY 14094
https://www.facebook.com/LockKeeperCafe/
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-lockkeeper-coffee-house-lockport
One of the ten best:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-lockkeeper-coffee-house-lockport
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