storytelling about the people & places of Lockport, NY during a snapshot of time. June 2025-present.

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Yesterday marked the third annual Lockport Pride celebration at the Kenan Center, hosted by Niagara Pride. It was a fun day of community & camaraderie, awesome vendors with cool Pride-themed wares, live music, activities for the kiddos, a drag show after-hours at the Taylor Theatre, and more! The Alexes aim to create an exceptional vibe for your party, so let them know if it’s a special occasion and they’ll up the ante, even providing desserts for anniversaries and adult date nights. On deck is free popcorn from the in-house popcorn machine, plus free water and coffee. The space is also BYOB if your girls’ night needs a little pinot with the paint. Got a favorite playlist or music artist? Let them know and they’ll curate the soundtrack. Or maybe your group are cinephiles? A large flatscreen is available for screenings. The Alexes are in their empire-building era. Lock City Books is your one-stop-shop for new & used books from a wide variety of genres for readers of all ages, cute gifts like puzzles, tarot decks, stickers, and socks, and is the home of a rotating cast of kitty cat friends via Cat by Cat, Inc. Follow their socials to stay in-the-know on various author and community events, and be sure to read all about Holly Edwards’ journey to bookstore owner and community connector, only on the Locket: thelocket716.com/holly-edwards. Books have been a stalwart throughout Holly Edwards’s life. “Having tumultuous teenage years and falling back on books, it was important to me,” she said. “Learning what a struggle it is for kids in our district to have books, and the statistics of low-income communities to book ownership — it was so surprising.” Our many, many thanks to those who donated during the first week of Operation Lock-Cat, our fundraiser supporting TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccine-return) efforts in downtown Lockport, NY! Funds raised both in-person and online will pay for the care of another 5 community cats, and we can’t wait to share the next round of cuties with y’all. 😻 Enjoyed a truly amazing dinner at One-Eyed Jacks Smokehouse Grill recently and haven’t been able to stop thinking about the brisket and those RIBS ever since! Grimbles Hardware needs no introduction. The Godfather of downtown Lockport has been at its location at 18 W Main St for 106 years, a third generation family business founded by Bob Grimble in 1920. Grandson and current proprietor Doug Roberts is onsite to help folks with all manner of household needs, including window and screen repair, key duplication, common (and not-so-common) tools, and more. They probably even have the exact cork you need, too! All manner of vintage, modern, and retro blend effortlessly at the behest of Lady Moss. Tone and Design Music & Vinyl Graphics is an anchor of the Locks Plaza, maintaining a large footprint in this commercial building in downtown Lockport for 7 years. Owner operator Matt Rutschmann wears many hats around his large scale music shop, including instrument repair man, music lessons instructor, and vinyl graphics maker and installer. Danielle and Jim Thompson have created another home for the creators of Lockport. Prolific Designs holds an eclectic, culture-inspired array of urban apparel and footwear within its cozy storefront on Main Street in downtown Lockport. Owner Robert X began his custom clothing printing business by designing clothes for local businesses, then took the leap and started his own clothing line, and now operates a brick-and-mortar storefront that features his design lines – BondedByLoyalty, Faith&Dreams, and Loyauté – among other popular urban fashion brands. The West End celebrated the 5th year anniversary of the West End Hooley this past Saturday. This business booster event brought folks donned in their finest Kelly green out en masse to pack out the neighborhood’s bars & restaurants, including the Ski Lodge Bar & Grill (405 Niagara St), Short Street Patio Bar (1 Short St), Pot O’ Gold Bar & Restaurant (20 W Genesee St), Shamus Restaurant (99 West Ave), Wagners Restaurant (246 Park Ave), Hawley’s Grove (482 West Ave), and Attitudes Bar & Grill (616 West Ave), with a family-friendly offering of games, sweets, and mulled n/a mead or n/a Irish coffee at Windsor Village Shops, whose roots pay homage to the Irish history of the region. Congratulations to Spill Your Creativity on their grand opening Saturday, March 21! Happy Anniversary to Big Ditch Brewing Company! Todd Chenez has a little quiz for the patrons of Chenez’s Popcorn. “How do YOU pronounce Chenez?” The unassuming doors of the little antique shop at Main & Pine may very well be a portal to another time. Looking for last minute sweet treats for today’s big love fest? Stop by Tater Cakes (@tatercakeswny) until 2pm today to find the perfect confection for your hunny or your bff! From giant cinnamon rolls, delectable scones, myriad cupcake options, cut-out cookies, heart brownies, fresh-baked bread, and more, you’re sure to find that perfect something for that perfect person. They even have premade Valentine gift boxes (while supplies last!). We’re prone to wander right into delicious spaces on the regular… There is no limit to what you can create at @imaginethatstudioandgifts – plan for a day or an hour of art at Imagine That, 240 Michigan St., Lockport, NY, & read more about creator & owner Jess Malloy’s journey to now at the link in bio. Walking around Imagine That Art Studio (@imaginethatstudioandgifts), tucked away in Lockport, New York’s industrial district, one has the sense of an aliveness all around. The shelves around the expansive warehouse space hold untold numbers of ceramic figures, spanning all manner of genre. Over here we have the gnomes, and over here we have the angels. Here, the butterflies, and here, the snails. There is no shortage of treasure-hunting here in Lockport, and some real good huntin’ can be had at one of the city’s newest spots, I. Thrift WNY (@ithriftlockport). Located in the Advance Auto Parts Plaza at 282 S. Transit St, I. Thrift is full of practical home goods & cozy furniture, gently loved clothing & decor, fun & fantastical collectors’ items, a wide array of media, books, & toys, and more! They also house a U-Haul rental company if you’re needing to load up an exorbitant amount of finds at one time… just sayin’. ;) What is one to do with the rest of the winter once the holiday cheer has come and gone!? Get outside and play, of course! Interested in taking up skiing or snowboarding this winter, or already involved in the sports and looking to freshen up your gear in 2026? Stop by Snowflake Ski Shop/245 Board Co. (@snowflake245) and find gear & equipment from your favorite brands, plus super helpful & knowledgeable team members to help get your ‘fit up to snuff for the rest of the winter ahead. Fun lil “throwback” (is just last week a throwback?) to Scripts Cafe (@scriptscafe) during the holiday season, where I was able to visit with good friends for a ‘long lunch’ during the dead zone between Christmas and New Year’s. Featuring the Thai Chicken Wrap, Matthew Panini, & Chicken Cobb Salad.  Happy New Year Lockport! I'm so happy to be here with you & am so looking forward to more stories & hangs in 2026! ✨️💫 Herbal Magick (@herbalmagickinc) has been doling out its special kind of magic in Lockport for 22 years. Featuring 2,500 different varieties of bulk herbs, spices, teas, and botanicals, in addition to a plethora of crystals, candles, essential oils, books, jewelry, vitamins, supplements, incense, and more, this cozy yet accommodating shop is the place to go to procure homeopathic remedies for just about anything that ails ya, plus all of your daily spice, tea, & magick needs. Stop in to talk with the knowledgeable staff who will be able to direct you to the perfect blend or bundle and get you set up for good health in the new year. Gift yourself the art of taking it slow this new year. Visit Slow Season (@yourslowseason) at 17 W. Main St. for a cozy beverage, artisanal bite & a crafty workshop (self-guided or as part of a group).  Stacey Bank and Sarah Sendlbeck want you to settle in and take it slow. Still looking for that perfect gift for that special someone who’s got it all? Stop by Windsor Village Shops (@windsorvillageshops) to shop a collective of 25 artisan vendors carrying all manner of collectibles, Bills-themed memorabilia, jewelry, small batch food items, crystals, soaps, handcrafted apparel, fabrics, and more, including Sprout Toys, the cutest lil toy shop featuring sustainably produced toys and educational fun for littles. @hawleysgrovebar celebrated their 4 year anniversary last night with a gorgeous family dinner, great company, & good cheer. Stop by this week to get Year Five started with aplomb!

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