With a new semester comes another new Main Street business: Genesee Graphics, which opened Wednesday Jan. 28. The business will replace Frugal Fashionista at 61 Main Street, which officially closed its doors on Jan. 10. Although in a new building, the business itself isn’t new.
According to owner Corrin Strong, he previously had a Main Street shop until 2009. With the recent closing of Staples in the Wegmans Plaza, Strong felt it was time to come back.
During his five-year hiatus, Strong operated the business from his home.
“Working from home is great, but people tend to forget you are still there after a while,” he said. “I have a lot of good costumers but it’s hard to get new costumers when you don’t have the visibilities. This gives me the opportunity to expand my business.”
Strong explained that his graphics business originally began when he published the weekly newspaper The Lake & Valley Clarion in Geneseo. He closed the paper in 2007.
Working with his partner Ellen Kampner, Strong offers black, white and color copies, graphic designs for brochures, business cards and more at the copy center.
They are currently running grand opening specials including five-cent black-and-white copies and 20-cent color copies.
“I haven’t set a date but we plan to do something as a grand opening,” Strong said. He noted that he is focused on “getting things going” first.
While this is an established business, Strong and Kampner only found out on Jan. 23 that they received the spot in the building, giving them a week to move in.
In addition to offering brochures and business cards, Strong has worked on political campaigns.
“We did most of the printing for the campaign of Sheriff Tom Dougherty in 2013 and expect to be in the middle of the 2015 Livingston County Court Judge race. Having been an unsuccessful candidate for a number of offices myself, I’ve learned what not to do,” Strong said in a press release. “I’ve found that politics is a lot more fun when you can stay behind the scenes.”
Strong and Kampner also operate the Free Soil Farm and the Garden Suite Bed and Breakfast in Geneseo. Strong is also the founder and president of the Genesee Volley Tennis and Croquet Club.
“Things get a little slow in the winter, so I thought it would be good time to open a store front,” he said. Strong noted that he is the kind of person who likes to keep busy.
In addition to Genesee Graphics, Main Street will see new additions with Cricket’s Café in the old Muddy Waters location and Sweet Arts Bakery in the original Genesee Valley Florist location, both set to open this winter.
These are only a few of many changes that Main Street businesses have seen this school year. Village Cafe and Catering replaced Bank Street Café, last semester Joe’s Comic Shop is under new management and has changed its name to Legion of Comics, Genesee Valley Florist moved into the old chiropractor’s office, the Inn Between Tavern closed and the Riviera Theater will have its debut reopening performance on Feb. 13.