BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Located on 42 Main St. in Brockport, Coleen’s Kitchen has been serving the community for just over 20 years, offering fresh, homemade breakfast favorites. Run entirely by Coleen herself, the diner operates from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every day except Sunday, creating a cozy, home-like atmosphere that keeps regulars coming back.
The charm of Coleen’s Kitchen is evident from the moment customers walk in. The space is warm and inviting, with vintage-style kitchen decor lining the walls, and the open kitchen allows diners to watch as their meals are prepared. There’s no pretense in the setup, just the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
Since moving to Brockport in 1997, Coleen Dwyer has become well known to the community. Before opening her diner, she worked at Wegmans, where she learned valuable cooking and baking skills that translate to her diner’s food today.
Coleen prefers the term “homecook” over chef, a label that properly reflects the simplicity and comfort her diner is known for.
“We moved to Brockport in 1997; my husband owns the record store down the road, Trader Shag’s. About three years into his business, this place, which was run by a guy named Vinny Ingerson, was selling it after 30 years. We decided to buy it; it was in my wheelhouse of what I knew to do: cooking and baking,” Dwyer said.
Since then, Coleen’s business and customer base have evolved over the years.
In the beginning, Coleen’s Kitchen was originally serving breakfast and lunch until 2pm and additionally had a few employers help Coleen wait on tables while she did the cooking.
Since 2013, Coleen has changed the menu to focus on breakfast as she found it was the most popular item.
“Around 2009, girls that were working for me both graduated, that’s also when the housing crisis happened, and I just didn’t hire anyone after that.” said Dwyer
“I made a few changes, like doing self-served coffee, and reduced my capacity a little bit from 36 to 22, which, even if the place is full, I found that I can handle that,” Dwyer said.
The success of her business has attracted plenty of hungry regulars, ready for the quality meals Dwyer provides. People like Turk Thomas, Steve Richardson, and Dennis Brown have been dining at Coleen’s Kitchen for years now.
“I’ve been coming here for 20 years. To be honest, it just seemed like a good place to try, and I was hooked. The food is excellent,” Turk said.
While Richardson and Brown haven’t been to Coleen’s Kitchen nearly as long, they’ve made it a regular destination for themselves since 2019. Each one of them tends to have a favorite when it comes to picking what to order every Wednesday.
“She’ll have specials every now and then. I tend to support my spicy side normally, but I like to get a sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and a bagel,” Richardson said.
“I get the breakfast sandwiches or the special depending on that too,” said Brown.
The specials at Coleen’s Kitchen are unique every week. Options such as blueberry pineapple pancakes as big as the plate and Cuban breakfast sandwiches being examples that change from a week-to-week basis.
“I’m probably the biggest variety guy of the group, I like to get a little bit of everything. If I don’t like the special, I’ll get something else, but I like a lot of different stuff,” Turk said.
Coleen’s Kitchen is unique, as when you sit down, waitress Coleen will take your order, homecook Coleen will then cook your breakfast, and when you’re done eating, cashier Coleen will take your money. After you leave, dishwasher Coleen will then take your dishes and clean your table, as well as tend to anyone else in the diner.
The diner’s quiet, unassuming atmosphere adds to its appeal. Coleen has a set of rules placed around the diner to keep this environment called the “Rules To Eat By”:
1. DEVICES: Please silence all devices. If you must take a call, please step outside — the restroom is not a phone booth.
2. CHILDREN: Please silence loud and misbehaving children. If you are unable to do that, please take them outside.
3. LANGUAGE: Believe it or not, most of us don’t use the word F**K in casual conversation in public. Please show some respect for the people around you.
4. VOLUME: You’d think the phrase ‘please use your inside voice’ would only be necessary for small children. Sadly, this is not the case. Once again, please consider the people around you, including myself.
DO YOU SENSE A THEME?
The only rule necessary should be: PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS. If this is unacceptable to you, there is a lovely diner right down the street. Thank you, Coleen.
P.S. NO WHISTLING!
In an era when many restaurants focus on fast service or modern dining experiences, Coleen’s Kitchen offers a return to simple, honest food that reminds you of family meals. For the people of Brockport, it’s not just a diner, but a cherished part of their community.
