Friends of Brookton's Market

A Small Country Store with a Really Big Heart...

which might soon become a community-owned business!

Hello Brooktondale community -- and those in the Tompkins county community with a heart for our little hamlet.

As you probably know, Brooktondale is very lucky to have its own little store and community gathering spot. Brookton’s Market is a unique and charming family-owned business with groceries, a café, draft beer on tap, a great espresso bar, indoor and outdoor seating, live music, and community events like a very popular trivia night. 

Sadly, the owners of Brookton's Market (www.brooktonsmarket.com) have decided that they don't want to be in the business of owning a community store anymore. It's a hard sector with very thin margins and the business has not been profitable since COVID. But happily, a local non-profit organization, Pathways to Equity, has signed a contract with the owners, to manage the store and help it transition into some form of community-owned business over the coming year or so.

I have been working closely with the director of Pathways to Equity, Roy Allen, to brainstorm ways to help the market become profitable again. He has ambitious plans to work with farmers, local food producers and food hubs, internship programs, the Ithaca Times (which is now owned by Pathways to Equity), and local community organizations. He wants to make the market financially viable while centering the needs of the community and building resiliency. 

Sometimes you have to make investments in order to turn things around when a business is struggling... and in this case, building a viable community store will definitely require support from the community, in many different forms. Investments, donations, becoming a regular customer, telling friends about the market, suggesting ways to bring more people to the market -- all of it will be useful and appreciated!

If you wish to join the Friends of Brookton's Market email list to learn more and stay up to date, please email me (Emily) at emilyfinnadams@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to this project, please write a check to Pathways to Equity, with "Brookton's Market fund" on the memo line, and mail or deliver to me at 488 Valley Rd, Brooktondale NY 14817 and I will give your check to Roy. I will be donating $500 to Pathways to Equity in honor of my mother and father, Molly and Barry Adams, who both deeply appreciated the Brookton's Market and went there daily.