This Exchange Street business has been the home of specialty coffees, mammoth breakfast burritos and wood-fired pizza for 10 years.
Come Monday, it will have new owners.
Heather Tompkins and Chelsey Madia have sold Opus Espresso & Food Bar at 486 Exchange St. to Chad and Jessica Lahr, and Kim and Beth Fletcher.
“It’s the four of us that are going to be running it,” said Chad Lahr last week, as he was flanked by Kim and Beth Fletcher at his Community Proud Apparel shop on Exchange Street.
For Chad Lahr, who owns multiple businesses, this is his first foray into the restaurant scene. He said he wouldn’t have done it if the three other partners didn’t have restaurant experience.
His wife, Jessica, is a former events coordinator at Ventosa Vineyards. Beth Fletcher has experience in cooking and managing at some larger chain restaurants and family-operated eateries in South Carolina and Tennessee. Kim Fletcher has restaurant management experience in the Northwest, Chad Lahr added.
Kim and Beth Fletcher recently married and are thrilled to be settling into Geneva.
“Beth and I are happy to step into Geneva and start our future,” said Kim Fletcher, who said she’s always wanted to live in a small community, adding that Geneva fits the bill.
Madia did not return a message requesting comment, but the previous owners posted the following on the Opus Facebook page:
“To all our loyal customers and friends: Heather and Chelsey would like to thank you all for 10 wonderful years at OPUS Espresso & Food Bar. OPUS was our first entrepreneur adventure of many in the Finger Lakes. Our success through the years could not of grown without the support of the local community. … We know (the new owners) will pour their love, energy and new ideas to continue the growth of OPUS in downtown Geneva.”
Lahr said Tompkins and Madia want to concentrate on their Yates County wedding venue, Crispin Hill.
The new owners said they saw a Facebook posting announcing that Opus was up for sale. Chad said a deal was struck within about 24 hours.
“They were looking for local people (to sell the business to),” Kim Fletcher said.
“We planted our flag in Geneva,” Lahr added. “We were friends with Chelsea. It was just a great fit.”
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