Our story

Brad's great-great grandparents, Dominic and Eugenia, started their family here in the late 1800s, not long after Frontenac began. Dominic was a coal miner.

 

Two great-grandpas also came here in the early 1900s to work in the coal mines.

For decades, his dad, grandpa, and great-uncle owned and operated The Frontenac Garage and Wrecker Service — first on McKay Street, then on nearby Cayuga Street.

 

Many members of Brad's family graduated from nearby Frontenac High School, and his mom and Andra taught there.​​​

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In the early years of our marriage, we sat at Brad’s grandparents’ kitchen table every Sunday after dinner, sorting through photos and listening to stories from “the old days.” From primary sources, we learned about the people, businesses, and milestones that helped lay its foundation. Now, we're proud to see his family photos hanging in our shop, and in the newly opened Heritage Hall Museum in the Frontenac Public Library just steps from our counter.

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We owned the popular Root Coffeehouse in one of the most historic buildings in Pittsburg for several years, where our older son, Dominic, was the senior barista. He and Root baristas Morgan and Ally joined us at McKay Street with the goal of helping us give back to the community where Brad got his start, and to start a new page in our own history book.

 

We look forward to meeting you and learning your story!