The Central Avenue pier is open to the public for observing wildlife, fishing, enjoying a cup of your favorite beverage, or store-hopping at the Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace. The waters are beautiful, and the “pier community” is unbeatable.

Last Saturday, my better half and I celebrated our 56th wedding anniversary with a trip to the Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace, located as part of the Central Avenue pier. We found several tourist-friendly storefronts that offer both indoor and outdoor dining options. My wife browsed the shops and found unique gifts for several special occasions coming up this summer. Campi’s Pizza is a usual stop there for most folks, but they were closed this time. The “House of Birria” is a Latin cuisine shop, and then came “Sydney’s Sweet Treats” – we had to buy some ice cream and two cookies there. Delicious.

Heading west, “Treasures by the Lake” took us by surprise. Shop owner Michele Donato provided us with a brief tour of the artsy, handmade items on the walls and shelves. Donato explained that more than 35 local artists and craftmakers provide inventory for the store, and she is a custom painter, creating personalized, handcrafted items such as customized Buffalo Bills wine glasses and much more. While we were there, we met Mary and Phil, a retired couple from Chicago who were visiting Dunkirk for the first time. We exchanged travel stories and joke tales that made everyone in the store laugh. The lighter side of life is so good.

The next store down was the “Off the Hook,” a cozy seafood restaurant and bar. It was hot and humid, so we cooled off with a chilly beverage and found a shady spot outside to sit for a bit. Right next door, we visited “Spike Dailey’s Irish Pub” for a look-see. Then it was on to the last storefront on the Boardwalk strip, “Lakefront Novelties.” We met proprietor, Tanya Land, who showed us her extensive collection of custom-made shirts, paintings and Buffalo Bills memorabilia, including hats and signs of all types. This shop offered very affordable clothing that found its way into the shopping bag for checkout. My wife was thrilled. Visit www.cityofdunkirk.com and select Boardwalk Marketplace for more info.

Photo by Forrest Fisher The Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace has become a local favorite place to visit for tasty food and unique gifts that reflect the lake culture.

Then it was a short walk across the street to visit “Demetri’s-on-the-Lake,” an age-old Greek-style restaurant that caters to the local community. Located right next to the Dunkirk Boat Launch, the clientele often consists of charter captains and fishermen. It’s a good place to learn more about how to catch fish, but we were there to enjoy a quiet early dinner. The best news was that Demetri’s was offering a food special that we had enjoyed there once before – meatloaf/mashed potatoes. Yes, I get it, that’s not a Greek dish, but it is so good. Accompanied by fresh-cooked carrots and green beans, a small starter cup of prime rib/potato soup, and a crispy side salad. Including two beverages from the bar, the bill was under $50! The unforgettable service and tasty food were five stars!

Every fishing tournament weekend from the Dunkirk area helps put a spotlight on the local businesses, bait shops, and charter captains. It’s a win for anglers, their families, and the region.

Gotta Love the Outdoors.

Outdoors Calendar

Aug. 1-2: 20th Annual Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Walleye Tourney – Dunkirk Harbor; 3 fish bag/day-2 days; Contact Chris Surma: csurmy@yahoo.com. Captain’s meeting, July 31 at NCCC.

Photo by Forrest Fisher Located on the Dunkirk Boardwalk Marketplace, Michele Donato is the proprietor of “Treasures by the Lake,” a unique storefront shop that offers hand-crafted gifts of local lake life culture.