TIM’S NOTES: Close by Sodus Point Filled with Surprises, Enjoyable – Oswego County Enterprise Journal

by Tim Nekritz  |  nekritz@gmail.com

 

It’s a brisk Saturday in May and a trio is simply beginning to cook dinner at a jazz membership as a crowd gathers in an intimate membership environment.

But it’s not New York City. Or Rochester, Buffalo and even Syracuse. Instead, this homage to America’s distinctive unique artwork type is a more recent a part of the scene in close by Sodus Point.

Nestled between Lake Ontario and Sodus Bay, this city in northern Wayne County is filled with surprises.

Like The Trestle, the place the jazz stylings of Mike Melito Trio easily places smiles on faces.

Or, proper throughout the road, the evolution of the legendary Captain Jack’s Goodtime Tavern, nonetheless bringing the enjoyable whereas persevering with to reinvent itself in twenty years underneath that title.

Jennifer and Dewayne Evans grew to become the most recent homeowners of Captain Jack’s in 2024. They had beforehand operated Sodus Bay Outfitters and after the acquisition, moved the shop — stuffed with souvenirs, clothes, collectibles, tenting items, fishing provides and extra — into the identical constructing.

A waterside location that first hosted Joe’s Place round 100 years in the past, the present iteration of Captain Jack’s appears like a group gathering place as a lot because it does a bar and music venue. It looks as if the beating coronary heart of Sodus Point, however there are definitely many components of the group with a rhythm value having fun with.

 

Go west

Sodus Point is about as close to to Oswego as Syracuse, which is why it’s shocking extra individuals don’t drive west to test it out.

Heading down 104, it’s round 50 minutes when you’re not caught behind gradual visitors (totally potential) however well worth the drive. Take a proper on Route 14 north, previous the landmark Alton Hardware, a pair extra twists and turns as 14 does some shimmying and also you’ll find yourself on this oasis.

Admittedly, lots of people who make the journey achieve this by boat and achieve entry to one of many many marinas that appear to be in all places on Sodus Point’s shoreline.

An excellent analogue nearer to Oswego County could be Fair Haven. Similar year-round populations (760 for Fair Haven, 822 for Sodus Point, in accordance with census information), ample waterfront, massive seasonal inhabitants improve and identified for sensational summers. Both are additionally changing into more and more identified for year-round choices.

Grieg Street, Sodus Point’s primary leisure district, extends alongside a peninsula like a bony finger pointing east into Sodus Bay. This stretch additionally features a couple distinctive eateries on its west finish within the Sabor Jalisciense Mexican restaurant and Hot’s Point, a seasonal ice cream and burger place that continues to be open however up on the market at presstime. Drive previous Jack’s and The Trestle and also you’ll discover the seasonal Docks Waterfront Restaurant and Lounge presenting one other summer season choice.

Just west of the peninsula alongside the principle streets, you could find loads of different eateries and leisure choices, together with The Bay Street, Franklin House Tavern and Rubino’s on the Point. You may keep right here a weekend and by no means get wherever close to operating out of choices.

You can see why it’s an ideal vacation spot by geography: The peninsula is ringed by docks and marinas inside a breakwall. To the south, much more marinas and plentiful docks stretch alongside the coast of Sodus Bay dealing with east.

On the north facet dealing with Lake Ontario, you could find the historic Sodus Point Lighthouse Museum, that includes excursions and a summer season live performance sequence and Sodus Point Beach Park, with sandy seashores that additionally wrap round behind a breakwall into the bay.

Like many a port city on Lake Ontario, Sodus Point had an industrial previous. In the nineteenth century, the port did numerous enterprise with coal freighters bringing in cargo to go overland by practice. The decline within the rail enterprise led to Sodus Point leaning into its newer function as a resort and vacationer magnet.

 

Eat, drink, be merry

Some long-time residents let me understand how a lot Captain Jack’s has developed over time. They recollect it as extra of a biker bar as soon as upon a time … not a nasty place however one which some individuals might need prevented on appearances.

According to the enterprise’ web site, in 2006 the couple Tom and Brenda Frank noticed sufficient within the location to remodel what was then a small pool corridor into the vacation spot it might change into by way of twenty years.

There’s a very good likelihood you’ll see Steven (Stevie) Buchwald behind the bar and operating the present. T-shirts within the present store word that Stevie has been part of this place’s story for 25 years and on a busy day he can masterfully work a solo shift behind the pine whereas caring for each patron round it whereas making them really feel seen and appreciated.

Captain Jack’s has a tremendous musical lineup, with many bands from Rochester, that actually takes off in the summertime with doubleheaders on Saturdays that embrace high-energy bands getting the get together going within the Tiki Bar. But even the principle bar hosts an impressive number of native and regional expertise, a lot of whom you won’t in any other case see this far east of Rochester, all year long.

As a group cornerstone, it additionally morphs right into a sports activities bar. Jennifer advised me that the place is packed for Buffalo Bills video games, serving as a Bills Mafia residence base particularly throughout its playoff runs. Jack’s patrons — like many in Upstate New York — had been additionally pleasantly stunned by the Buffalo Sabres resurgence within the NHL, internet hosting gatherings for the NHL playoffs.

But no matter’s taking place, Captain Jack’s has developed right into a family-friendly place. Customers of all ages flock there for meals, drinks, leisure and sumptuous waterside views.

Just south throughout Greig Street, The Trestle is the brand new child on the block and whereas a bit extra area of interest, nonetheless provides high quality taste to the native scene. It’s a comfy place, the place proprietor Charles Straubling and different workers spin vinyl jazz data (usually from Charles’ large private collections) when a band isn’t taking part in. One method or one other, you’re going to listen to some magnificent jazz music when you’re right here.

The Trestle references the village’s industrial previous — when practice trestles welcoming coal dominated the place — but in addition supplies one thing new and totally different than numerous what you’ll discover alongside this stretch of Lake Ontario.

A lifelong fan of jazz and bebop, Charles was happy in May 2025 to carry one thing he likes to the group — and that affection is reciprocated. It’s extremely pleasant; whilst a customer, I’ll typically discover myself in conversations with virtually any and each different buyer on quite a lot of subjects. You can loosen up and borrow a e-book, puzzle or recreation (whereas visiting with my teen, he routed me in Uno, edged me in Scrabble and we performed to a stalemate in chess). A pleasant sampling of beer and cocktails accommodates a variety of tastes.

As summer season rolls in, I hope to take a look at much more locations that reopen and thrive with the hotter temperatures. This is a love letter to Sodus Point however one which comes with apologies in realizing this place has a lot extra depth than I may simply cowl on this column.

I welcome you to go to, discover and let me know what surprises you discover.

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Tim Nekritz is director of communications at SUNY Oswego, the place he spearheads telling the tales of the campus group.