Village of East Aurora, NY

2018 marks the 36th year my brother and I have competed to find the first new penny of the year and thus win breakfast from the other. Earlier this week, I found the 2108 penny, and I’m already looking forward to breakfast! The text exchange with my brother was priceless.

The path to finding the penny lies in my visit to the historic Village of East Aurora, located among the rolling hills of western New York. While the village averages well over 100 inches of snow a year and even though snow had remained on the ground just the week before, spring seemed to arrive over my four-day visit.

The vibrant Main Street of small shops and local industry is a fun meander. My visit started with a stop at the eclectic Taste coffee shop, which occupies a 100-year-old grain mill. The chatter in line ranged from recommendations on what to order to the music scheduled for later in the month. With my coffee to go, I headed along Main Street.

It was my stop for a treat—specifically for sea salt chocolate caramels—at Fowler’s Chocolates, a family-owned chocolate company established in 1901, that produced the 2018 penny in my change. Among my other stops was the village landmark, Vidler’s 5 & 10. Started in 1930 and family-owned, this variety store claims more than 75,000 items, anything you could possibly expect to find in an a classic, old-fashioned dime store.

In contrast to Vidler’s overwhelming inventory are some newer and more focused shops. Kickstand Crafts, handcrafted and unique goods for people who love cycling, opened earlier this year. What a cool shop with so much to peruse, from bike gear and home goods to jewelry and accessories. I chatted with the owner, who shared a bit about his inventory, featuring local and regional artists as well as crafters from elsewhere in the U.S. and beyond. I was tempted by the bike tire belts and satchels made from bike tubes but left with some bike-themed metal ornaments for my favorite cyclist.

I was enjoying a salad at Homegrown Kitchen and struck up a conversation with Kim, who lives in the village. She said, “People here know you by name,” and that multiple generations of families live in the village. “One of my favorite things about living here is that we are surrounded by green space.” She talked about how this green space is intentionally preserved by the village board, which is very engaged and “hugely important.” She proudly described that the village was able to withstand the arrival of big box retailers and has retained its long-time grocery store.

Next time I visit, I’ll be sure to have a little more popcorn at the Aurora Popcorn Shop and enjoy another “beef on weck” sandwich—a Buffalo area favorite—at Red’s. I know for sure I’d like to visit some of the village’s historic sites, including the house Millard Fillmore called home from 1826-1820 and where he began the political career that ultimately led to his becoming the 13th U.S. president.

The Village of East Aurora sports old-fashioned charm as well as moxie. And a 2018 penny. All good reasons to visit.