While the town of Schroon has plenty to offer  -- there was one thing lacking that always annoyed business owners Joanie and Greg Cunningham.

“We don’t really have a community center, where folks can just gather and talk,” Greg told Schroon Laker. “So my wife Joanie said ‘Let’s do something about it’… and we did.”

So the Cunningham’s, who run Joanies Goodies and El Mexicana Restaurant, have turned one of their unused store fronts on Main Street into a drop in community center.

“The center has three areas to it. An exercise space, a game room area and a place to sit by the fire place, Greg said.

The games area will feature a pinball machine and a new Foosball table. The table is being donated by Rebecca and Jeroud Doyle of Schroon Lake Pharmacy.

“Curtis Lumber also generously donated materials. We are very grateful. We had about had a dozen volunteers help us get this ready. Joanie is a force of nature. When she wants something done, she gets it.”

The space will be officially opened at 4pm this Friday (October 25)  in a ribbon cutting ceremony by Town Supervisor Mike Marnell. That will also mark the launch of a spooky Haunted House the Cunninghams have set up for Halloween.

There will contests for kids, including apple bobbing and best costume, judged by Joanie.

Greg says he sees the space being open to everyone all year ‘round, with adults using it during the day and kids after school, up until 9pm.

“We want this to be a place where people can talk, so there won’t be Wi-Fi or cell phones. In recent years  Joanie and I have taken on mentoring roles with some of the kids here, and this is a great place to have” .