DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — A once-condemned property in Dunmore has been transformed into a welcoming community café.
The Wired and Inspired Café, located at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Electric Street, held its first full day of business Wednesday. While the grand opening celebration is planned for next week, residents are already getting their first taste of the new spot.
Owner Warren Shotto said the building’s rebirth was years in the making.
“We saw potential here. The property was condemned and falling in on itself and so we took a few years to bring it to where we are today. Through a lot of planning, a lot of hard work, we finally got here today, and we’ve done our first full day here today," said Shotto.
The café’s name is a nod to its location, Jefferson Avenue and Electric Street. With a background in design, the owners say they wanted a space that was both vibrant and inviting.
“What we really wanted to do was have a space where people can just come hang out and be themselves and just feel welcome,” Shotto said. “That was the impetus to try to do this. Since we both grew up here in Dunmore, space here really is at a premium. So, an opportunity like this really doesn’t come around here that often and when it presented itself, we thought this would be a perfect spot.”
The café is open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to serving coffee and food, the owners are looking for local artists who would like to display their work inside.
The project has drawn strong community support, with residents following the renovation progress on social media over the past several years.