Being Thankful for Nostalgia, Good Food, Good Music, Good Company and Good Community

I’m giving thanks this Thanksgiving by paying homage to a popular vintage-style Niagara Falls eatery that eventually and unexpectedly shuttered its doors in 2022. It was a small food venue that offered nostalgia, good music, and good food, creating a sense of community.

The Thanksgiving holiday represents many virtues. They include welcoming the company of loved ones, eating good food, and creating a sense of purpose and belonging. They may also include activities to enhance the meaning of the holiday, such as sharing music or doing something for the local community. All together, these virtues remind us to be thankful for the things that truly matter. For this reason, I am paying homage to a former northern New York restaurant called the Third Street Retreat Eatery and Pub that wasn’t far from the Canadian border.

Like many local community restaurants, this gem of an eatery unfortunately succumbed to the economic challenges of maintaining a meal-focused venture. This is especially true for businesses striving for an economic rebound following the pandemic shutdown. When I learned Thirds Street was no longer in business, I wondered how this vintage-style, music-themed restaurant could become economically vulnerable. Of course, I was not pondering this thought as an economist (which I’m not). My query was based on my fascination with local businesses that are popular among the locals and create a sense of community.

It was about the Music, Food, and Community

It should come as no surprise that music impacts all of us in one form or another. And we will likely find music around us even when we least expect it. This was the case for the Third Street Retreat Eatery and Pub visitor. The small, vintage-style breakfast and lunch cafe in Niagara Falls, New York, was indeed one of those must-see spots for good local food with good background music.

The Eatery’s menu presented a very satisfying selection of breakfast items available to anyone craving a morning meal well past the morning hours until the cafe closed at 3 pm. The “Pub Grub” was equally appealing. It included your tasty variety of sandwiches, burgers, salads, appetizing sides, and your choice of refreshing beverages.

Besides its inviting menu selections, the cafe was known for its attractive, rustic interior and the owner’s great interest in music. The music theme was what I found most eye-catching when my family and I visited the cafe several summers ago.

I was fascinated by the cafe’s walls, adorned with album covers of various music artists. The display of many album covers created what I felt was the right ambiance that brought comfort and nostalgia to me, my family, and, from what I could tell, the other patrons. I also found that listening to music in the background while looking at the albums, particularly albums of my favorite artists, spoke to the power of music on all of us and to its relevance to the nostalgia and community when we listen to our favorite tunes with good company.

Showing Our Gratitude when Times are Good and When They’re Tough

It’s unfortunate that the Third Street Retreat Eatery and Pub joined the list of restaurants that could not remain viable as a local business. And, sadly, it’s not a complete surprise. There is always the hope that local businesses will thrive as a unique community presence that contributes to the local economy and gives community residents a place to boast as a unique attraction for locals and visitors alike. I hope other businesses in the Niagra Falls regions and other towns around the country, small and large, have longevity that economically and socially bolsters the local community.

Remember to be thankful for family, friends, and good health. Also, be grateful for what our local communities have to offer. When possible, let’s show our gratitude by contributing meaningfully (e.g., dining and shopping locally, inviting others to do the same) to the local businesses in our communities.

Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday weekend! Bon Appetit!!