Franks Farm Market and Bakery

Frank’s Farm Market and Bakery

Fall is not complete without a trip to Frank’s in Erie, PA! This amazing farmers market provides food that will satisfy any appetite, including a rather large bakery for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Location:

Frank’s Market is located at 5880 Sterrettania Road, Fairview, PA 16415. It is literally right across the street from Walnut Creek Middle School, and conveniently located near Browns Farm. We highly suggest grabbing a treat from Franks and heading over to Browns Farm for a little picnic or walk through the trails! It’s also a great place to stop for an after school snack!

Property Description:

Frank’s Farm Market and Bakery is such a lovely country store and bakery. Park anywhere in the parking lot surrounding the shop, and enter through one of their doors. When we went, the doors were propped open to let in the fresh air. Take a look at the produce and products outside, then walk inside and enjoy the wonderful country atmosphere while you shop!

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What to Do:

There are so many unique finds at Frank’s! First and foremost, because we are doing this post in the Fall, we have to mention that you can get pumpkins here! They also have a beautiful selection of mums surrounding the building and in front of the greenhouses.

You will have an abundance of choice if you’re looking for fruits and vegetables! While browsing, we saw potatoes, onions, apples, carrots, celery, spinach, peas, plums, and pears, just to name a few!

And if you’re looking for other staples, grab some eggs, milk, cheese, and bread while you’re browsing the store for locally grown produce!

One thing you must check out while you’re there is the bakery! Frank’s Farm Market offers a plethora of sweet treats. Everyone with us found something that looked yummy to them behind the glass. And trust us, when we sat down to enjoy those treats, they were just as yummy as we expected!

They also have plenty of ornaments for your lawn and garden, or to adorn the site a loved one is buried at. They also have decor for inside of your home, such as signs and plaques to put around your house.

Who Can Go:

Come one, come all to this farmers market in Erie, PA! The little one’s will especially love it because, well, bakery items!

Final Thoughts:

Save yourself a trip to the grocery store by heading out to Franks! No, you’re not going to find name brands and random pantry items that you don’t really need, but you will find fresh fruit and vegetables and locally made food! Shopping local is so important, now more than ever! If you’re looking for more farmers markets in Erie, PA to add to the list that you frequent, we suggest adding Frank’s Farm Market and Bakery to that list!

If you’re looking for Fall fun in Erie, PA and the surrounding area, click here!

And for other farmers markets in Erie, PA, click here!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Site Highlight: The Mainstreet Cakery (in Fairview)

Site Highlight: The Mainstreet Cakery (in Fairview)

The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe. This may sound familiar to some of you who frequent our blog, as we’ve already given you a full layout of The Cakery in Millcreek at Copperleaf. However, we recently visited The Cakery in Fairview, and we figured why not give you all a little preview of what that location of The Cakery is like.

So a lot of things are the same. For instance, the menu. The atmosphere is also very similar.

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However, outside of The Cakery in Fairview, there is a covered tent that you can choose to dine under, along with a small gazebo that houses a few two top tables. Under the tent, you’ll find heaters to keep you warm while you enjoy your food on those crisp Autumn days.

We decided to order some Fall drinks, and thought we would detail those for you. One of us chose the Pumpkin Cappuccino. This Pumpkin Cappuccino seriously tastes like you are drinking pumpkin pie. It has a really good amount of spice, but it’s not overbearing. The other drink we chose was the Blueberry Cobbler Coffee. It was good; it definitely had a blueberry aftertaste to it. Oddly enough, we put pumpkin pie spice creamer in it and it was actually very good! But you can definitely put a simple vanilla creamer in. And honestly, chocolate or hazelnut creamer would probably be really yummy in it as well.

Blueberry Cobbler Coffee
Pumpkin Cappuccino

We also wanted to show you the food we got, to give you more ideas of what they serve at The Cakery. One of us got a Mushroom and Swiss Burger with Chips, and the other got a Tuna Melt with Pickles. Both were very good!

Tuna Melt
Mushroom and Swiss Burger

When you go inside of this location, you will enter and immediately see the counter and the bakery case. You can pay for your meal, as well as grab a bakery item to go if you enjoyed your food outside, in front of this restaurant in Fairview, PA. To your left, you will see an entryway into the dining room, and the kitchen behind the dining room. You can also, obviously, choose to sit inside. And if you’re just looking for a bakery item, then by all means, come on in and pick some out!

If you’re interested in a more informative article about The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe, click the photo below to go to our other blog post!

If you’re looking for more places to go, things to do, and seasonal events in Erie County, subscribe to our exclusive email list and never miss a wandering!

[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with the Main Street Cakery Cafe in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Godfrey Run Farm Market & Cider Mill

Godfrey Run Farm Market & Cider Mill

We’re loving all the Fall things right now! There’s something about a farmers market and cider mill combination that gives us the Fall feels, so we decided to check out Godfrey Run Farm Market and Cider Mill.

Location:

Godfrey Run Farm Market and Cider Mill is located at 8958 Westlake Road, Lake City, PA 16423. If you know where Mason Farms Farm Stand in Lake City is, Godfrey Run is just a tad bit further west from them.

Godfrey Run is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. These hours are observed in October of 2021.

Property Description:

Godfrey Run is a really great local food shop. The front porch adds such charm to the whole store, and makes you feel like you’re entering someone’s home instead of a market. On the porch, there are a few two top tables set up if you’d like to enjoy some of your food outside while you’re there.

There are also some picnic tables to the right of the building. There is also a great little hay and corn stalk display, and we’re sure if you wanted to take some photos by it, you absolutely could!

The inside has a general store feel, but with a lot going on! Your eyes will be pulled in several directions because of the many good items sold at this farmers market in Erie, PA.

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Because one of their claim to fame’s is their apple cider, it smells like apple inside and trust us, that is not a bad thing! Your senses will be on overdrive as you walk in because there are so many yummy things to look at and smell!

What to Do:

While here, you’re definitely going to want to shop! Inside of the market you will find local produce, but mostly many different kinds of apples.

You’ll find several items to stock up your pantry while you’re looking around! They have a ton of different jarred foods; you can get relish, pickles, apple butter, peppers, salsa, and much more! With delicious items such as hummus dip, black licorice, and popcorn, you can stock up on snacks!

They also have Penn State Berkey Creamery Ice Cream for sale, and not just by the cup! They have several different flavors to choose from. You can get a pint or quart of ice cream during your visit, and you can also join a pint club! For $99, you can get 6 pints of ice cream per month for the months of October, November, and December. If you do decide to get some ice cream, you can enjoy it outside by sitting at one of their smaller tables on the patio or one of the picnic tables (to the right side of the building if you’re facing it).

One thing we were very surprised to find was a small wine tasting room with several bottles available for purchase! They also have hard cider!

Who Can Go:

Bring everyone to this farmers market in Lake City! We didn’t bring ours in, but we think it would be rather easy to maneuver a stroller or a wheelchair. The floors are cement, so it’s a very easy surface to push anything with wheels on.

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed our trip to Godfery Run in Lake City, PA! Shopping local is so important, and here you will find a variety of things to add to your kitchen stash! Whether you’re looking for apples and other produce, jarred jams and butters, ciders, wine, or something sweet, Godfrey Run Farm Market and Cider Mill can offer you a plethora of options!

For several fun Fall events in Erie County, click here!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Godfrey Run in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Serendipity Sweets

Serendipity Sweets

**WE’RE SORRY TO SAY THAT SERENDIPITY SWEETS HAS CLOSED THEIR LOCATION ON EAST 38TH STREET. THEY ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A NEW LOCATION, AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU AS SOON AS WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION**

Summer is leading into Fall, and we haven’t brought you all of the amazing ice cream stands in Erie just yet. However, we did recently visit Serendipity Sweets, and we think it’s worthy of being added to your lists of places to visit in the summer, and in the colder months as well!

Location:

Serendipity Sweets is located at 861 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16504.

If you are looking for things to do by Mercyhurst College, Serendipity Streets is a quick walk away from the college.

Property Description:

Serendipity Sweets is a very colorful, uplifting space that definitely makes you feel like a kid in a candy store, or in this case, a kid in an ice cream and bake shop! We loved all of the colorful tiles on the floor and the bright blue bubbly walls that made us almost feel like we were underwater.

There are plenty of tables set up inside, and there are also benches available outside if you want to enjoy the nice weather.

What to Do:

Serendipity Sweets was different than any other ice cream bar we’ve ever been to. You will start at the left of the counter and make your way down towards the right. You choose your flavor, and then choose toppings from the sundae bar that will be put on for you. Or, you can choose a specific sundae and they will just make it as it is on the menu. Once you pass through the bar, you can make your way to the topping wall. There are dispensers with several different toppings, such as sprinkles, Reese Puffs, Skittles, and snickerdoodle cookies that you can “dump” onto your ice cream or non dairy ice cream. Each topping will cost you an additional fifty cents.

Not only does Serendipity Sweets offer ice cream, frozen yogurt, and non dairy ice cream, but they also offer baked goods as well. Grab a brownie, cake slice, or even an entire pie when you stop in! They even offer froyo pies! Yum!

We are always on the lookout for menu items for those who have food allergies or need vegetarian or vegan foods, and Serendipity Sweets was so accommodating for those of us who have food restrictions. They have several gluten free options, not only in ice cream but baked goods as well. They also have non dairy ice cream choices, which is actually what one of us got, and it was really, really good!

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Who Can Go:

This is a really cool ice cream shop and bakery that anyone can come to. It is very easily accessible for a wheelchair or a stroller. If you’re limited on time, you can go to their website and place an order to be picked up at their drive through window! You can find the link to order by clicking here.

They do offer private parties in their dining area, which I believe are held on the weekends before their normal hours of operation.

And for those of you who go to Mercyhurst College, Serendipity Sweets would make for a great quick date or even a place to study at, given the tables and the small barstool area as well as the booth area in the corner.

Final Thoughts:

We thought this was a really cool place to grab a DIY sundae. The atmosphere was really fun and bright, and you just feel happy as you walk in. As far as finding ice cream in Erie, PA, this is a very fun and different location!

Serendipity Sweets is open from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Serendipity Sweets in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]

The Crick Coffee House and Eatery

The Crick Coffee House & Eatery

We are on a mission to find locally owned coffee shops in Erie County. On a random trip in the Girard area, when going through town we noticed a really cool coffee shop and parked out front. Unfortunately, they were closed at the time. We checked the hours and ventured on back to The Crick Coffee House & Eatery with hopes of getting a great cup of coffee, and they surprised us with so much more!

#meetmeatthecrick

Location:

The Crick Coffeehouse and Eatery is located at 236 West Main Street, Girard, PA 16417. If you are planning on going to any of the other businesses on West Main Street, or if you work at any of them, The Crick is the perfect stop for breakfast or lunch. They are open from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays. There is parking in the front and in the back of this place to get food and coffee in Girard, PA.

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Property Description:

This coffee house in Girard, PA faces Main Street, and has a beautiful brick front facade. A sign hangs sideways over the door welcoming you into this coffee house and restaurant. When you walk in, you will see tables on the outskirts of the room, and a doorway to your left which leads into a room featuring more seating. Ahead of you will be a bakery counter and signs letting you know what the specials are for the day. If you walk past those signs, you will see the counter to your right where you can place a to-go order. Keep walking straight and the kitchen is to your right, while another doorway leading into more seating is to your left. Continue straight back to the restrooms and a door that leads to the outdoor area and more outdoor seating.

Ordering Counter

What to Do:

We have to say, The Crick in Girard completely took us by surprise. We thought we were walking in to get coffee and maybe have a few sweet treat options to check out. We were delighted to find out that you can get breakfast and lunch (as in full meals) at this coffeehouse and eatery in the west county of Erie. [View their menu here.] Now, even though we found this out, we still decided to order what we had come in for because the sweet treats looked amazing! We plan on heading back to try a full meal sometime soon!

We’re always excited to try a new cup of coffee! Upon walking up to the counter, we saw several, and I mean several, different types of syrups that they use to flavor coffee. Because we have differing tastes, as we know you all do as well, we tried two completely different coffees.

The first was a pumpkin cold brew. We ordered it as a pumpkin cold brew with almond milk and pumps of pumpkin pie spice flavoring syrup. Now, we do have to say this was unlike any other pumpkin coffee we’ve had before, and we say that as a good thing! We often find that pumpkin spice anything can be completely overbearing with pumpkin spice; that being said, this pumpkin cold brew was not. That was refreshing to us. If you’re looking for somewhere to get pumpkin spice coffee in Erie, PA but don’t really enjoy a whole lot of spice, this would be a great drink for you to try, especially if you like cold brew coffee.

Pumpkin Cold Brew

The other drink we tried was blueberry blend with cinnamon and added cream and sugar. It was a hot drink, very different in comparison with the cold brew. The blueberry gave it some goof fruity flavor while the cinnamon came in and delivered the Fall kick of spice we were looking for.

We were able to try several treats; a green monster doughnut, an XL birthday cake macaroon, gluten free coffee cake, and a cinnamon bun with frosting. Every treat we tried was flavorful and scrumptious. The macaroon tasted as good if not better than macaroons we’ve had from bakeries in bigger cities. The cinnamon bun was dripping in delicious frosting and the green monster doughnut was “good and tasty and yummy” as described by one of our littles. And we just had to try something gluten free, and the coffee cake did not disappoint! It was flavorful and had a very good consistency, a delectable dessert for those with a gluten intolerance, or those wanting to cut back for other reasons!

Whether you get your order to go or dine in, you have the option to sit inside or outside as you enjoy your coffee, treats, drinks, or meal (or all of the above). We had no idea that The Crick had an outdoor seating area, and one table is even under cover on this adorable porch. Day date idea in Girard, PA? We think so.

Who Can Go:

This coffee house and eatery in Girard, PA welcomes everyone and is accessible by anyone. There are a couple steps to get up to the ordering counter, so if you’re planning on coming in and getting take out, be aware of that if you are entering from the front of this Girard coffeehouse. You can, however, enter The Crick from the back (where the patio is located, there is also parking in the back) and you will not encounter any steps to get to the counter. If you are coming to dine in, there are no steps to get into the entry dining area of the dining area through the doorway to your left.

Final Thoughts:

One thing we would hate to leave out of this post is how wonderful we felt the service there was. Our barista was more than willing to help us out in making our drinks the way we would like them, and offered several suggestions to us. We were checked on when dining outside even though we had just gotten our stuff to go and decided to sit outside anyway. And the “hometown charm” in this coffeehouse in Girard, PA is phenomenal, everything about this place made us want to come back.

If you’re on a search for great coffee in Erie County, The Crick should be on your list of places to try out.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Crick Coffeehouse and Eatery in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Pressed Books and Coffee

Pressed Books and Coffee

We love supporting local, and when we started this website we set out to showcase as many of the locally owned businesses in Erie County that we could. One local business that we’ve frequented is Pressed Books and Coffee. It is a bookstore, gift store, and coffee shop all rolled into one.

Location:

Pressed Books and Coffee is located at 1535 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505 in Greengarden Place. It is sandwiched right in between Donatos Pizza and PopLuck. There are two large signs above the two entrances into this book and coffee shop in Erie, PA.

View from the parking lot

Property Description:

This bookstore and coffee shop is set up as two separate locations that are connected by a set of sliding doors inside. We love that you can browse the bookstore and then go hang out in the coffee shop without having to step foot outside.

Bookstore into Coffee shop

We love the atmosphere inside of this tastefully decorated store. We’ve talked about it several times, and we agree that this is a place that both men and women can feel comfortable in. We love the dark stained wood and how it plays off of the black and white, the patterned floor in the middle of the transition between the coffee shop and the bookstore, the white bricks, and the lighting. Honestly, it’s just a really cool space. It feels “homey.” Is that the right word? We think it is.

What to Do:

We can’t help but absolutely love the children’s bookstore inside of Pressed. It is decorated to perfection, and includes an adorable hollow tree that the kids can sit inside. They have a wide selection of books for kids of all ages, babies through teenagers. Fair warning, we can’t walk into this room without leaving with some sort of treat for the kids; whether it’s a book, puzzle, or soft and lovable plushie, we always find something either educational or adorable at Pressed.

Children’s Bookstore

They had a story time for kids which we have attended in the past, but we recently checked and there are no current events such as this coming up. If you would like to know when events like this pop up, follow them on social media to get the scoop! If you’re looking for a great local children’s bookstore in Erie, PA, you’ll find it at Pressed.

The coffee shop at Pressed never disappoints; they have great drink concoctions and yummy treats to go with them. They have espresso, latte’s, coffee, teas, and even milkshakes. There’s literally a drink for every member of you family on the menu. They even have treats like cookies and macaroons; but if you’re looking for something more solid, you could grab an English muffin or a bagel.

We definitely recommend asking about seasonal specials, because you never know what they are going to have. With fall quickly approaching, they are currently offering drinks such as dark chocolate and mint, pumpkin and white chocolate, and pumpkin spice.

Who Can Go:

Pressed is a great place to bring the whole family. As we mentioned above, the Children’s Bookstore is a great place to bring the kids, but the rest of the bookstore appeals to adults of all ages.

We think that the coffee shop makes for a great location if you’re looking for places to study in Erie, PA. Although it’s not completely silent (remember, kids come in, too), the atmosphere is great for just kicking back and relaxing while getting your work done. Not only are there tables set up in the coffee shop, but a lounge area as well. There’s also a lounge area in the bookstore itself.

We also think Pressed makes a great place for a day date or early evening date in Erie. Start off by looking at books together, then head over to the coffee shop to grab a drink and a snack. Pick out a high top or have a seat in the lounge area in the coffee shop and talk while you enjoy your food and drinks.

Final Thoughts:

Pressed Books and Coffee is a wonderful place for the whole family. If you’re looking for a great locally owned bookstore and coffee shop in Erie, PA, we believe Pressed should be on your list of places to check out. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m..

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Pressed Books and Coffee in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]

Main Street Cakery Café

Main Street Cakery Café

If you’re looking for restaurants in Erie, PA, this locally owned café offers a great atmosphere and friendly service while dining. You can get a lot for a great price, and whether you want breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, there is certainly something there for you.

A view from outside, including outdoor seating

Location:

The Cakery has two locations; the one we visited on this wandering in particular is located at 2900 Copperleaf Dr. Erie, PA 16509. The other location is 7403 W Ridge Rd, Fairview, PA 16415.

Property Description:

This is a café style restaurant, with a bakery and coffee counter located directly inside the entrance. The ice cream selections will be to your left. Seating is located both to the left and to the right, and also outside. You are to seat yourself, but if you opt to sit outside, let them know at the counter so they can send a server your way. The décor is very farmhouse in style, and we felt an “at home” feeling while being inside.

Coffee, Bakery, and Ice Cream Counter
Seating to your left as you walk in

What to Do:

The Cakery in Erie, PA is a great place to enjoy a meal, or even just a cup of coffee and or a sweet treat. This wandering was our second time eating food from this location, and we enjoyed is just as much as the first. They have a great menu featuring breakfast, appetizers, wraps, macaroni and cheese, burgers, salads, and sandwiches. They also have daily specials.

You can have a seat inside the café, or enjoy the weather on a beautiful day by sitting in their outdoor space. If you choose to have a meal at their location, you will be taken care of by a server. On this trip, we actually opted for takeout, and the food was just as good as if we would’ve eaten at the restaurant.

Black Bean Burger
(We split ours, so part is gone in this photo.)
Hawaiian
(Only half of the sandwich, we forgot to take a picture before we started eating!)

The Cakery also offers bakery items if you’re in search of something sweet. We saw cookies, muffins, cupcakes, pies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, and bread. You can view the items behind the glass right next to the ordering counter.

Bakery Case
Bakery Case

If you’re looking for a cold treat, The Cakery offers Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream. On the day we went, they offered 12 flavor choices, including Raspberry Chip Cheesecake and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup.

Ashby’s Ice Cream

Who Can Go:

Anyone can enjoy this quaint restaurant, coffee shop, and bakery in Erie, PA. There is ample space for strollers or wheel chairs, and it’s kid friendly.

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed the atmosphere inside and out, and the food was yummy. The Main Street Cakery is a great place to meet up with friends, have a nice meal with family, or enjoy a date with you significant other. If you’re looking for a lovely café in Erie, PA, you may have found the right destination in The Cakery.

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[Editor’s Note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Main Street Cakery in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]