The journey of renovating and repurposing the 1860s Lewis County Jailhouse into a flagship brick-and-mortar location for an entrepreneur’s small business start-up set the scene for the community’s mission to elevate downtown revitalization and small-business development. The project’s vision and impact were further recognized when it received the 2025 AIA Central New York People’s Choice Award. The owner proposed a phased restoration, with various streams of grant funding guiding its development. Initial repairs and improvements brought the building up to code while preserving its structure and maintaining its historical character