Hobart and William Smith Colleges

A downtown Geneva landmark since 1894, the Smith Opera House is a popular destination for students, faculty, staff and Geneva community members. Each year the Smith hosts numerous events including films, concerts, plays and performances.

Melissa Cardinale Peters, owner of Melissa's Barber Shop, has been running her business in Geneva since 2004.

Melissa's Barber Shop is a men's haircare specialist on Seneca Avenue, just across from the Smith Opera House.

Here, Caitlyn Heinz, a pastry chef at Bagels and Cakes, puts the finishing touches on a set of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes.

Bagels 'n Cakes,” opened in 1999 by Bill and Lori Legott, is a popular destination for students, offering everything from fresh-made bagels and sandwiches to cookies, cakes and homemade pies.

Welcome to Geneva, the thriving community that is home to Hobart and William Smith Colleges. For This Week in Photos, student photographer Billy Bird ’17 takes you through just a fraction of the local businesses and hot-spots that helped make Geneva an “All-America City in 2015.

Right in the heart of downtown Geneva on 489 Exchange Street, Geneva Bicycle Center is the place to go for all things bicycle related, from sales and rentals to repairs. Surrounded by rolling countryside and thriving wineries, Geneva is ideal for cycling.

Rafael Diaz, the owner of El Morro Restaurant, is also the chair of Festival Latino in Geneva, a popular celebration at the Bicentennial Park downtown.

Located on Exchange Street, El Morro Restaurant features Puerto Rican and international cuisine. El Morro also has a food truck, which can be spotted at HWS during exams.

Owner Jim Hogan shows off some of the merchandise available at Geneva Bicycle Center. He has run the business for more than 15 years and the hard work of the staff has earned GBC a place in the top 100 bicycle stores in the U.S. for four years running.

Kelly Bradley, Executive Director and Director of Operations of the Smith Opera House, sits in the lower level of the restored 19th-century theatre. Able to seat 1400, the Opera House features live performances and films, and is dedicated to enhancing cultural opportunities in Geneva.

Bethany Haswell, co-owner of Stomping Grounds, shows off some of the prints and books available for purchase. Beth began Stomping Grounds with her husband James and, along with selling antique books and other items, runs a custom framing and fine art printing service through the store.

Stomping Grounds is one of a number of interesting retail shops downtown. Specializing in vintage books and prints, they also carry custom postcards, antique maps, home accessories and gift items. It’s not unusual to find faculty and students in the upstairs lounge where patrons can relax, study and write.

Chris Lavin ’81, the executive director of the Geneva Community Center, stands in the computer lab surrounded by desktops and 3-D printers, all for use by community members and children.

Jackie You (left) and Ken Chen (right), who had previously worked together in restaurants across New Hampshire and Maine, co-own Oba Express Sushi and Hibachi take-out and restaurant. While both are natives of China, You and Chen have always been enthusiastic about Japanese-style food, and are already making a name for themselves among Geneva's sushi-lovers.

Oba Express Sushi & Hibachi is a relative newcomer to the area, setting up shop close to the Hobart and William Smith campus this year.