When the Vreeland family purchased 50 acres of land from a Native American tribe in present-day Passaic County, New Jersey, they likely wouldn’t have imagined that centuries later an eponymous bar and cafe would remain. Construction of the Victorian house began around 1840 and by 1861 the space served the community as a post office and general store where locals bartered for household items, purchased grain, voted, and even ordered suits.

When Relda Vreeland—who was born in 1879 and lived in the house until her death in 1982—took over the reins, she ran the family business as a general store and candy shop. As a business owner, volunteer firefighter, and one of the first women in the state to obtain a drivers license, Relda was known as a trailblazer in the community.

“There are lots of people who will come and tell us about her,” says current General Manager Charissa Lanza.

In 2003 Lanza’s father purchased the property and embarked on a two-year restoration and reconstruction process that preserved the building's floors, installed historically-accurate windows, and repainted the house’s white exterior. To accommodate modern business, the Lanzas also installed new bathrooms and a commercial kitchen. Much of the decor—including the postal ledger papers, suit illustrations, old hymn book pages, and newspaper clippings that line the walls of the cafe—is comprised of found items from the structure's storied past.

Since 2013, with the help of her sister, mother, and father, the foursome have owned and operated the Vreeland Store as a cafe, bar, inn, and event space.

Today as part of what Lanza calls a “family affair,” the Vreeland Store has a 12-seat bar and hosts live music on Thursdays and/or Saturdays. In addition to a varied beer and wine list, the Vreeland Store boasts seasonal sangria often made with fruit and fresh herbs from the property's garden.

Location: 1383 Macopin Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480

Hours: Tuesday, 8 a.m-5 p.m.; Wednesday and Sunday, 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ; closed Monday.

You're Having: The sangria special and Vreeland's famous Mac & Cheese.

Best Yelp Review: "The building...has a great early century vibe to it in such a historic location and I love the atmosphere. Great for hanging out for a late night drinking with the locals!" —Satoshi N.