I've lived in the Rochester area for almost 30 years, and Fairport is the village I call home. It's also where I'd rather do business than anywhere else.
When buyers are looking at homes here, the question I get most isn't about square footage or school districts. It's "What's it actually like to live here?" My honest answer is always the same: it's the locally owned spots. The shop owner who knows your name. The restaurant you walk to on a Friday night.
So I started a video series called Andrew's Local Favs, where I take you inside the places I actually go. Here are the first two, and they happen to be a short walk from each other right in the village.
Lucky Penny Books & Gifts
📍 270 Packetts Landing, Fairport, NY 14450
If you haven't been to Lucky Penny yet, you're missing one of the best new additions to the village. It opened on Packett's Landing this past spring, and it's already become my go-to whenever I need a gift that doesn't feel like a last-minute grab.
The owner, Haley Giangreco, used to be a visual designer at Goodreads, and you can tell. The book selection is small and hand-picked, built around personal recommendations instead of a giant wall of titles. Around the books you'll find jewelry, paper goods, home decor, apothecary items, kitchen pieces, art, and a great kids' section. A lot of it comes from local makers and small-batch artisans.
My tip: With the holidays coming, this is the place to knock out the people on your list who are hard to shop for. Then walk it off along the canal.
Allende MX Kitchen & Bar
📍 75 N Main St, Suite 100 (The Cannery), Fairport, NY 14450
Allende is the newest spot at the Cannery, and it opened this September after about a year of construction. The owners, Ofelia Ramirez and her husband, already run Mecate, which has four locations around the Finger Lakes. Allende is their more modern take: the bar has a ceiling covered in flowers, the room is warm and moody, and the menu leans into authentic Mexican food plus a serious list of tequila, mezcal and margaritas.
In the video I start with chips and salsa and a cold drink, then dig into a shrimp platter with guacamole and rice. It's open seven days a week, so it works for a weeknight dinner just as well as a night out.
My tip: The Cannery already has some of my favorite spots in town. Allende makes it an even easier place to say "let's just meet there."
Why This Matters If You're Thinking About Fairport
This is what people mean when they say Fairport has a "village feel." You can browse a bookstore on Packett's Landing, cross Main Street, and sit down for dinner at the Cannery without moving your car. Add the Erie Canal path, the lift bridge, the Saturday farmers market and the festivals, and you start to see why homes near the village move fast.
If walking to dinner and knowing your shop owners sounds like your kind of life, that's exactly what my team helps people find. We know which streets are walkable to the village, what's coming on the market, and how to compete when a great Fairport home pops up.
Fairport FAQs
Where is Lucky Penny Books & Gifts in Fairport?
Lucky Penny is at 270 Packetts Landing in Fairport Village, near the Erie Canal and Main Street.
Where is Allende MX Kitchen & Bar?
Allende is inside the Cannery at 75 N Main St, Suite 100, in Fairport. It opened in September 2026 and is open seven days a week.
Is Fairport, NY a walkable place to live?
The village center is very walkable. Shops, restaurants, the canal path and the lift bridge are all close together, and homes within walking distance of Main Street are some of the most sought-after in the area.
Who can help me buy or sell a home in Fairport?
The Hannan Team at REAL Brokerage lives and works in Fairport and helps buyers and sellers across Fairport, Pittsford, Victor, Webster, Brighton and the greater Rochester area. Call us at 585-752-3506.
Thinking About a Move to Fairport?
Whether you're buying your first home or looking to sell, I'd love to help you find your spot in the village. Call or text The Hannan Team at 585-752-3506, and follow along for more episodes of Andrew's Local Favs.
— Andrew Hannan, Team Leader & Associate Broker, The Hannan Team at REAL Brokerage
