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Date: 5/13/2022
EAST LONGMEADOW – Kool Beenz is the new tenant at the Depot at Graham Central Station. Open as of April 19, it serves coffee, tea, fresh baked goods, plenty of healthy breakfast and lunch options, sandwiches and salads.
Kool Beenz owner Jen Santos grew up in a family business that operated for over 80 years, then ran a restaurant in Longmeadow for six years.
“The town is really supporting us, and we have been really busy,” Santos said. “It’s a nice addition to East Longmeadow and the surrounding area.”
The Depot building sits alongside the Redstone Rail Trail. It was built in 1876 as a stop on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. The East Longmeadow Train Depot was part of a network of railway lines taking passengers from Boston to New York City and from New Haven, CT to Lowell and Turners Falls. During the Great Depression, the building was turned into the Community Feed Store, which sold coal, heating oil, hay and animal feed.
In 2010, Steve Graham and his wife Jean bought the building then bought the land in 2020. The Grahams turned the former station into an ice cream shop and opened in 2021. They have vanilla and chocolate soft serve and twist, as well as 16 flavors of hard ice cream.
“We thought it would be a nice idea if people could sit down at the Depot and have a cup of coffee, a pastry or breakfast sandwich,” Steve Graham said. “We ended up finding Jen Santos. She was looking for a place, had a discussion with her and she said she would do it, so that’s how it came about.”
Graham told Reminder Publishing Santos is “doing a nice job” and has a solid menu that differentiates itself from other places people can go for breakfast or lunch. She has identified a good market that might be underserved in this area, according to Graham.
“It brings in more people to The Depot and people will come back with their children and grandchildren if they’re exercising or walking on the trail that wouldn’t necessarily have known about us,” Graham replied. “When we decided to do this project, we really wanted something that the community could enjoy, and I think we’ve managed to create that.”
Santos responded, “It’s a great place to have breakfast, lunch or ice cream.”
Located on 64 Maple St., Kool Beenz is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Their number is 364-6006. The Depot at Graham Central Station is open seven days a week from May through October from 12 p.m.- 8 p.m. This year, their car show will take place on May 21 from 12 p.m.- 5 p.m. Follow both businesses on Facebook for what’s new on their menus and upcoming events.