MoJoe’s Book and Brew Coming to Historic Corset Building

A new locally owned and independently operated bookshop, café, and taproom will soon open in the City of Cortland.

On Monday, the Cortland Planning Commission unanimously approved a site plan allowing the conversion of a retail space inside the historic Cortland Corset Building into a public assembly space.

Before the vote, MoJoe’s Book and Brew owner Joe Cortese shared an overview of the project he and his wife, Molly, have been developing for the past eight years.

The new business will occupy a section of the first floor at 75 East Court Street in the Cortland Corset Building, in the space formerly home to Area51 before its move to Riverside Plaza. Cortese said MoJoe’s will operate six days a week — closed Mondays — with tentative hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The bookstore will feature new titles along with a curated selection of used books. The shop will also carry paper goods, T-shirts, and other novelty items. The café will offer coffee, soda, and baked goods, while the taproom will serve beer, wine, and cider.

Joe and Molly Cortese will run the business alongside at least two full-time employees and additional part-time staff.

The couple has been seriously pursuing the venture for the past four years. For three of those years, they worked toward opening a location in Homer. However, delays related to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the availability of space in the Corset Building ultimately led them to choose Cortland.

Planning Commission members praised the proposal, calling it a strong project and noting the value of bringing new business into a historic building.

The name MoJoe’s combines Joe and Molly’s names. An opening date is expected later this year.