‘I Chose Albion’ initiative seeks to counter negativity

‘There is so much good in Albion. How can we get people to see that?’

Provided image: “I Chose Albion” stickers and signs are expected to soon be available to show support for the Albion community.

ALBION – Rebecca Alexander and her family are grateful for the Albion community which has supporting their businesses, Dubby’s Tailgate and Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza.

Alexander and her husband Brian and their children started the wood fired pizza business in the summer of 2019, selling pizzas from a portable trailer and oven they set up by Arnold’s Auto Parts in Albion. The pizzas sold out every Friday, week after week.

When they were looking to establish a restaurant with tailgate and backyard games, they considered Lockport, Brockport and Batavia, but ultimately chose Albion due to the community support. Dubby’s Tailgate opened in a warehouse on Platt Street in December 2021 with the restaurant following in November 2022.

“We have a good community,” Alexander said. “We just need that extra motivation to change that mindset.”

She thinks many in Albion can be overly negative, and quick to be naysayers about efforts to better the community.

Alexander shared those thoughts with Courtney Henderson, owner of a social media agency in Albion – Babe Cave IncYOUbator.

The two wanted to counter the negativity they see about Albion in many social media posts, the knee-jerk tendency by many to share gloom and doom.

Last week, Henderson and Alexander invited about 30 people from Albion who own businesses and lead local organizations to discuss why they chose Albion.

“There is so much good in Albion,” Alexander said. “How can we get people to see that?”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Courtney Henderson, left, and Rebecca Alexander led a discussion and presentation last week about the positives of living and working in Albion. Dubby’s Tailgate hosted the event.

Alexander and Henderson presented an image proclaiming “I Chose Albion” that will be available on stickers and yard signs.

Henderson acknowledged being a business owner in a small town is a tough task that is not unique to Albion.

She led the group of about 30 attendees in a discussion where they split up in small groups. They were asked to discuss the following:

• What’s your vision for Albion’s future, and how do you see yourself contributing to it?
• If you could tell someone considering Albion why they should choose it, what would you say?
• What change or growth have you seen in Albion that excites you the most?
• What made Albion the perfect choice for your business?
• What first drew you to Albion, and what made you stay?
• How has being part of the Albion community impacted your journey?

The attendees were asked to share on note cards why they chose Albion and what motivates them to invest their time and talents to the community.

One said her husband loves Albion and wants to see the community prosper. “His passion is admirable and I have joined forces.”

One chose Albion because of the Erie Canal and Santa history with the Santa School and Christmas Park.

Albion has a deep heritage, one person wrote, and has youth sports opportunities with Little League, football, wrestling and basketball.

“It’s close to home with affordable property, beautiful architecture and family-oriented,” another wrote.

One person said Albion has “magical qualities” and “intangibles” like the town from the Brigadoon musical.

Another person grew up in Albion and sees friends in town she has known since grade school. “It is nice to go places and see people you have known for years.”

One person who has been rec director for about 50 years said he will never give up on Albion. John Grillo said he is grateful to have been in youth sports, and to have coached kids and led the parks program.

One said Albion has been a place for their family to have a growing business and small-town values where neighbors know each other.

“I came here because I could buy a huge house with lots of property affordably,” one person wrote. “It was a great place to raise successful, well-rounded children. They had a great experience here.”

One person said Albion is “not too big, not too small” and offers affordable housing and opportunities to be in school sports and music programs.

Another said Albion is safe with a small town feel, “everything is right around the corner.”

Some of the organizations at the discussion at Dubby’s included representatives from the Village Board, Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events (G-ACRE), Albion Merchants Association, Albion Youth Sports Athletic Program (AYSAP), the Albion Lions Club  Albion Ministerium, Albion Rotary Club, Albion Town Board, Albion Betterment Committee and Bring Christmas Back to Albion.

“We want to get the organizations on the same page and be a united front,” Henderson said.

She and Alexander would like to see the groups meet every three months and share their upcoming activities and programs so the organizations can help promote each other and make the events even better.

They encouraged more people to celebrate the good in Albion.

“Every journey begins with a single choice – the choice to believe in Albion,” they said in one of their slides. “It’s the choice to see beyond challenges and recognize opportunity, to invest in not just businesses, but in people, in dreams, and in the future we are building together. It’s the choice to embrace Albion’s rich history while shaping its next chapter. And tonight, as we come together, we celebrate that choice – because every investment, every idea, and every partnership forged here strengthens the foundation of a thriving, connected, and prosperous Albion. The best part? The story is being written, and we all have the power to make it extraordinary.”