The Good Neighbor in Groton to offer fresh groceries, coffee, café fare and more

There has been a lot of action going on at 209 Peru Rd. in recent months, and many in Groton have been speculating about what the former site of Pontillo’s Pizza, followed by A Burger Shack, might become, as it has been empty since the latter closed in November 2022.

Speculate no more, because Laura Hahn and her husband, Bill Meade, have been working hard and burning the proverbial midnight oil behind those paper-covered windows, with the intent to open it as The Good Neighbor — a place that will offer fresh, locally sourced groceries, a small café, a coffee and espresso bar with drive-thru available and more!

“Most of all, I want it to be a community hub,” Hahn said. “I want people to be able to come and enjoy a cup of coffee with friends and have access to fresh food.”

Hahn also sees her business as a resource for local vendors to have some consistency for revenue — particularly those who typically might take their wares to a farmers market, where sales can be sporadic.

“I thought I could provide all that, so I initially started looking for a building in Moravia, but nothing was available in my price range, and then I found this one and purchased it,” Hahn said. “I’ve had my own catering business for the past seven years and got to meet some amazing local vendors from whom I purchase everything from Angus beef to vegetables and bakery items. I realized they were all my neighbors — and that’s where The Good Neighbor name came from.”

By day, Hahn is the town clerk in Sempronius, and that is where she, Meade, and their eight-year-old daughter, Genevieve, reside, but Hahn grew up in Clarence, New York and had a very interesting journey between there and here.

A 2005 graduate of Clarence Central School, Hahn had been very involved with art and painting in school and was the captain of the rifle team. Outside of the school day, she was a milker on a small dairy farm, and she also worked at The Clarence Deli, where she first learned how to make breakfast sandwiches.

“I made a lot of baloney-and-egg sandwiches,” Hahn laughingly said, but working in the food service industry was not on her radar just yet.

Hahn’s first love was art, but she also enjoyed biology, so she thought she could combine the two and eventually work for the Department of Environmental Conservation or do some sort of scientific drawing somewhere. Thus, she opted to attend SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) in Syracuse, from which she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology in 2009.

While at ESF, Hahn was the captain of the woodsmen’s team, participating in lumberjacking events, and she also ran the peer tutoring program. After hours, she worked as a bartender at Silva’s Table & Tap in East Syracuse.

A first full-time job for Hahn after college was at Lime Hollow Nature Center in Cortland, where she was the public program coordinator for about a year, but she continued to work part time at Silva’s — which was where she met Meade, who happened to be a customer.

“I also met my best friend, Renee Storiale, there, who is now the office and social media manager for The Good Neighbor,” Hahn said. “I always like to say I got my husband and my best friend from Silva’s!”

Hahn and Meade were married in 2014, and Genevieve was born in June 2016. Meade was working at Farrell’s Auto in Marcellus, and the couple had purchased a farm in Sempronius.    

“I thought I would always be there [at Farrell’s], but when Genevieve was about a year old, we started thinking about stability in retirement,” Meade said. “I got my current job as fleet manager for Cornell Transportation and have been there ever since.”

Meanwhile, Hahn had expanded her culinary experience as the kitchen manager at Café 407 in Liverpool and as a sous chef at Elderberry Pond in Auburn, where she gained many skills and which she credits as “the two places that made the most impact on my life.”

“We bought our farm because that was the life I wanted to live with my husband and daughter,” Hahn said. “I named it Little Yard Farm. It will be seven years this April since I started my catering business there, and three years ago, I started a dining greenhouse on the property. It seats 10 people. I rent it out privately and serve five- to seven-course meals with a farm tour, and about three times a year, I offer sliding scale rates because I don’t think good, wholesome food should only be for those who can pay the most for it.”

Hahn said she hopes to eventually build a greenhouse space similar to Little Yard Farm on The Good Neighbor property, but for now, she is waiting for more equipment to arrive and necessary inspections to happen. She hopes to be open for business the second or third week of March.

“The drive-thru will open sooner than the rest of the store,” Hahn said, “but then, the inside will have a small, cozy seating area, and we’ll have outdoor tables in nicer weather. The grocery store shelves will have local eggs, meat products, cheese, milk, seasonal produce, pastas, jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, whole coffee beans, teas and dried herbs — all local and fresh.”

Hahn said she will also feature her own homemade tea blends made from local herbs, and she is currently communicating with the agriculture program at Groton Jr./Sr. High School to plant and maintain flower, herb and vegetable gardens in outdoor troughs once the weather is conducive to that.

Eventually, Hahn will add products from local artisans, but those will be juried by a small board of directors to ensure quality and fairness. She also hopes to have local artists, illustrators or writers come in for special programs on a quarterly basis.

Once an opening date is set, the hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to start, with the hope to add more days in time. Local vendors are encouraged to reach out for consideration of their products via thegoodneighborgrocery@gmail.com or by calling or texting 607-221-1175. There are also Facebook and Instagram pages under thegoodneighborgrocery.

“The number of people who have already reached out to me who I never knew before is staggering,” Hahn said. “Everyone is so receptive and excited about this and has made me feel very wanted.”

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Ridge Runners spaghetti supper

The Groton Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club will hold a spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at its clubhouse, 748 Salt Rd., 1 mile north of Rt. 90. Meals include spaghetti and meatballs and a side salad. The cost is $12 for adults, $11 for senior citizens and $10 for children aged five through 12. Children four and under may eat for free. This is a perfect way to enjoy a unique dining experience in a rustic country setting. Take-out dinners are also available.

McLean Fire Department fish fry

The McLean Fire Department Friday Fish Fry fundraiser will be held Friday, March 8, starting at 5 p.m. A $15 dinner (cash or check only) includes an 8-ounce haddock filet, French fries, choice of cole slaw or mac & cheese, dessert and a beverage. Eat-in or takeout is available.

Active Aging and Functional Fitness class

Have you wanted to add more activity to your daily routine but aren’t sure how to start? Do you have limitations and want help designing a routine that works for you? Do you have a loved one who wants to maintain or improve their independence?

Functional exercises are specifically designed to enhance mobility, independence and overall well-being. These exercises focus on movements that support flexibility, balance, strength and endurance, allowing individuals to perform everyday tasks with ease.

Come meet with Chad Smith, certified personal trainer and co-owner of Groton Fitness Center, sponsored by Groton Recreation. Chad will talk about the benefits of functional fitness and how you can begin your journey to improvement in a safe and friendly environment. He will also introduce the new Active Aging fitness classes and answer any questions you may have about how to get started.

Sessions are scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon or 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 at the village office, 143 E. Cortland St. Email recreation@grotonny.org with questions.