Local restaurant and pub Junior’s Caz Bar at 64 Albany St. is coming up on its one-year anniversary on April 1. The milestone is not just an achievement for Junior’s, but is one that also benefits the various local businesses that Junior’s owner Geoff Zimmer Jr. works with and supports.

“I just like to try to support the local community, and I hope local people will support me as well,” Zimmer said.

Junior’s is a family-friendly burger joint with a full bar that offers home-cooked specials and is open seven days a week, as Zimmer describes.

“People think we’re just a bar because that’s what it was [before us], but we’re family friendly,” he said. “That’s been the hardest thing to overcome.”

Junior’s gained some recognition in January after winning the “Best Chili in Town” award during the 2015 Chilly Chili Cook-off, and while that was a great moment, Zimmer said, it made him realize that people don’t know just how local his local restaurant his.

It starts on the sidewalk of Albany Street, where people who look at the Junior’s Caz Bar sign hanging above the door are seeing a piece of work created by Tim Hughes at Cazenovia Cut Block. Inside the décor, is all Cazenovia — with more still in the works. There are Cazenovia team jerseys on the wall — both high school and college — framed by local photographer Gene Gissin; with photos of Cazenovia, taken and framed by Gissin, also on the way. Soon, Zimmer said he will paint the logos for both the Lakers and Cazenovia College Wildcats on the walls of the dining room as well.

“I’m just trying to get more Cazenovia-related items in here,” Zimmer said.

Since its opening last year, Junior’s has always had local food from local producers on the menu and local beers on tap, but the number of locally made drink offerings has increased and will continue to increase, he said.

Junior’s currently has 10 draft beer handles with four local beers offered — Empire Brewing Co., Good Nature Brewing Co., Middle Ages Brewing Company and Critz Farms cider — but plans are to add a second Empire beer, as well as beer from Henneberg Brewing Company in New Woodstock and Ere Canal Brewing Company in Canastota, Zimmer said. The bar also has Owera wines, Life of Reilley Distilling Company vodka and 1911 Cider from Beak and Skiff.

As the one-year anniversary approaches, the future for Junior’s looks bright, Zimmer said. With spring coming, he will start offering live music and karaoke, St. Patrick’s day will offer green beer and corned beef, plans are in the works for an annual golf tournament and, of course, there will be an anniversary celebration on April 1.

“I just hope to be here for a long time, and be a part of this community,” Zimmer said.

For more information, call Junior’s Caz Bar at 815-5122 or visit juniorscazbar.com.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].