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Historic Depot in Broadalbin Converted to Restaurant, Gift and Coffee Shop
broadalbin, business, coffee, culture, java junction, judi phillips, kitty husted, kristel lafreniere,
For a hot cup of coffee or a quick lunch‚ head for the old railroad depot in Broadalbin.
Mother and daughter Judi Phillips and Kristel LaFreniere teamed up in 2004 and turned the 1800s depot into Java Junction‚ a quaint coffeehouse‚ eatery and gift shop.
“Every time I used to pass by the depot‚ I loved its country setting in the center of a village‚” Phillips says. “And my daughter always wanted a coffee shop‚ so we put our heads together.”
Java Junction serves up specialty coffees‚ cappuccinos‚ lattés and smoothies‚ and for lunch‚ customers can enjoy soups made by a New Hampshire chowder company‚ house-made sandwiches and paninis‚ and locally made pastries.
“We also sell a lot of affordable gifts‚ like candles‚ soaps‚ lotions‚ cards‚ puzzles‚ stuffed animals and Adirondack merchandise‚” Phillips says. “We’ve tried to keep the ambiance of the railroad depot. We burn wood in an antique potbelly stove.”
The coffeehouse even has a resident ghost‚ surmised to be the ghost of Kitty Husted‚ the woman who had the depot built in the 1800s.
“Sometimes the lights are already turned on in the morning when we get here‚ or the whole water-faucet nozzle will be lying in the sink‚” Phillips says. “Things have fallen off shelves for no reason‚ and sometimes our ‘Open’ sign will be turned on when it was supposed to be off. We don’t think it’s a mean ghost – just mischievous.”
However‚ Phillips says the customers are the most unique thing about Java Junction.
“Even people who don’t know each other all join in conversation here‚” she says. “We’re like one big coffee family.”
Story by Jessica Mozo
