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Date: 8/17/2022
CHICOPEE – Cousins Mary Barcome and Melissa Hojnowski are the new owners of the Windsor Lounge, a small bar lounge located on 101 Main St. offering craft cocktails and beers, a selection of delicious muddled drinks with fresh fruit and nightly entertainment. Formally known as the Windsor Cafe, the place has been around for decades as an Irish sports bar.
“It’s an old place with a fresh new look,” said Barcome. “We’re hoping to keep the longtime customers and add in some new faces.”
She continued, “We had our grand opening on July 28. The turnout was phenomenal and since then it’s been really well. The support of the community has been overwhelming. They’ve been coming in and congratulating us.”
Barcome and Hojnowski told Reminder Publishing they’ve always wanted something like this and have been working for 15 months to get the doors open. Together, they both have over 35 years of experience in the restaurant and bar business. Barcome comes from a family that owned bars and restaurants in Holyoke. She even has a food truck called Bobos serving fresh fish ‘n’ chips and Alligator Po’boys. Hojnowski has 27 years of experience bartending, as well as managing several establishments in the last 15 years.
“After many years in the business, we get to use our own vision and it’s validating to see that work out,” Hojnowski added. “I like the idea of bars being a community, people gathering not only to enjoy and have a great time with what we created but building a camaraderie. It’s very rewarding.”
She went on to say, “We’re two women owning and running a bar. We’re bringing a service industry perspective to it. This has been an established bar for 40 years. We wanted to give honor with keeping part of the name, but also adding an additional part of the name that shows what our real unique vision is which is more of a lounge.”
Barcome and Hojnowski will be introducing food trucks in the back area of the lounge. In addition, they will be having different bands and forms of entertainment. They also plan to explore what needs there are in the community and how they can help. Hojnowski and Barcome are joining the Chamber of Commerce and attempting to start local sports teams of all sorts. The pair said they would love it if people would come in and lend them their experiences and hopefully get that going in the fall.
“This is going to be a place to build lasting memories for family and friends,” Barcome said. We can’t wait for bigger and better things to become.”
The Windsor Lounge is open seven days a week from 11 a.m.- 1:30 a.m. For more information, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.