'Memories around the table': Auburn cafe mixes centuries of tradition, changing times

Town, village and business reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. AUBURN — The Weed family business is a balancing act between continuing tradition and changing times. That business, New Hope Mills Store & Cafe, dates back more than two centuries.

While the 181 York St. space opened in 2003 and expanded in 2017, New Hope Mills began with a gristmill built in 1823 by Judge Charles Kellogg, a relative of the cereal family. It still sits in the serenity of a rural, wooded location along Bear Swamp Creek in Niles, close to Skaneateles Lake.



Brothers Howard and Leland Weed purchased the mill in 1947, and in 2013, their grandson Doug Weed took over the business from his father, Dale. "Everything has been my fault since that," he said with a laugh as he and his sister Dawn Korbel spoke with The Citizen on Tuesday in one of the cafe's booths. The gristmill, which produced flour, and a sawmill are now on the National Register of Historic Places as the New Hope Mills Complex.

But for Weed and Korbel, they're still home. They have fond memories of the mills, like lunches by the waterfalls or visiting their grandmother's house. But they also had nonnegotiable work to do there, like shoveling grain out of trucks and cleaning.

“In a family business," he said, "you wear all the hats." Where Cayuga County Eats is a new monthly feature in The Citizen highlighting the "hidden gem" restaurants of the area. To suggest a restaurant for a future edition, email david.

[email protected] , call (315) 282-2245 or message @auburncitizen on Facebook. Siblings Dawn Korbel and Doug Weed and his sister Dawn Korbel talk about the family business, New Hope Mills Store & Cafe in Auburn.

Today, New Hope Mills consists of several dozen people and even a robot that manufacture the pancake mixes and other products found on grocery shelves throughout New York state. The store and cafe opened in 2003 with a vision of convenience: The Weed family wanted all of their products all in one building so customers didn't have to shop between different ones. "We wanted to continue the close connection between our company and the consumers," Doug said.

"Our mission is helping families make memories around the table." Whether that table is at the cafe, a customer's home or even another restaurant doesn't matter to the family. Even fellow diners like Pavlos' Restaurant or Auburn Diner use New Hope Mills mixes.

It produces more than 20 different pancake mixes alone, including a new s'mores one, as well as waffle, brownie and cornbread mixes, and maple syrup from sister business Schoolyard Sugarbush. Apple crumb cake pancakes at New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn. Parents may frown upon their children enjoying the chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker treat for breakfast, but the rules change when pancakes are involved, Weed said.

"When you think of s’mores, you think of one of those indulgent times when you’re camping or with family," he said. "It’s one of those flavors that creates a good memory bank of nostalgia." The family wants customers to have plenty of opportunities to enjoy New Hope Mills products, and hopes the relatively consistent menu of its cafe piques their interest enough to try recipes at home.

Along with pancakes and waffles, popular items like breakfast burritos, corned beef hash, smash burgers and loaded macaroni and cheese are available for breakfast and lunch. Specials at the cafe, which change monthly, showcase the kitchen staff's versatility and creativity, Korbel said. Led by kitchen manager Jimmy Kimble, they recently concocted an apple crumb cake pancake meal.

Three large cinnamon pancakes are topped with an apple compote, a crumbly mix, a ring of whipped cream and a caramel drizzle. New Hope Mills also mixes things up when it comes to milkshakes. This month, vanilla ice cream is blended with apple cider and spices, and three apple cider doughnuts hang on the side as a garnish.

A brief tour of New Hope Mills Cafe & Store in Auburn. More than 200 years after New Hope Mills began, its manufacturing process has changed but its high quality hasn't, Weed said. His family wants to ensure their history doesn't become part of the past.

Many of the company's products are loose copies of familiar ones that have either been acquired or dissolved, he continued. Korbel said they can keep their products affordable because they don't have to invest in much advertising. People know and trust the name.

For many, it can also stir up fond memories. "We may not be brain surgeons but we impact the mind, the emotions and the experiential part of eating," Doug said. The family wants customers, especially the elderly who have more of those memories, to take it all in at the cafe.

He said it could host events inviting them to gather and reminisce. Food can be a big part of that process, he continued. Whether it's family, friends or strangers, people who share a meal often share a lot more than that.

"When you sit across the table, especially with someone you like," he said, "it’s a time where you really connect." WHAT: New Hope Mills Cafe & Store WHEN: Cafe open 7 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, store until 4 p.

m. WHERE: 181 York St., Auburn INFO: Visit newhopemills.

com/cafe or call (315) 252-2676 Siblings Dawn Korbel and Doug Weed operate New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn. New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn. New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn.

New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn. New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn. New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn.

Apple crumb cake pancakes at New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn. A smash burger at New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn. New Hope Mills Store & Cafe on York Street in Auburn.

Staff writer Christopher Malone can be reached at (315) 282-2232 or [email protected] .

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