Bear Hugs Remember Going to Triphammer Marketplace? Two Alums Bought It A married couple is planning some improvements to the venerable shopping center, located near campus in the Village of Lansing “Bear Hugs” celebrates heartwarming stories of Cornellians on the Hill and around the world. Have an idea? Email us at cornellians@cornell.edu! By Melissa Newcomb When her parents would visit Ithaca while she was an undergrad, Kristen Ferguson Kopko ’20 would sometimes meet them for coffee at Ithaca Bakery in Triphammer Marketplace, a shopping center located just a few minutes’ drive from campus. For Spencer Kopko ’18, who grew up in Ithaca, the marketplace—technically located in the Village of Lansing, just off Route 13—was a childhood destination for family dinners, errands, and afternoons spent wandering its halls. The complex is known for its distinctive red-and-yellow signage. “Triphammer has always been a comfortable, community-oriented spot,” says Spencer. “It definitely has some eclectic architecture and layout, but it makes sense for the neighborhood that it’s in. You can just get lost in there.” These days, the two are unlikely to get lost in the shopping center—because they own it, having bought it in September 2025, just months after their wedding. Triphammer has always been a comfortable, community-oriented spot. It definitely has some eclectic architecture and layout, but it makes sense for the neighborhood that it’s in. Spencer Kopko ’18 Before becoming business and life partners, the Kopkos met as undergrads on Slope Day. They had a passion for Big Red sports in common, with both serving as captains—Spencer on the men’s soccer team and Kristen on women’s field hockey. ProvidedAs students, after a Big Red field hockey game. They got together during Spencer’s final semester as a government major in Arts & Sciences and remained a couple after graduation, navigating two years of long-distance dating before eventually settling in NYC; they now split their time between the city and Ithaca. The opportunity to buy Triphammer Marketplace came through Spencer’s work in commercial real estate development: he was introduced to the original owners, a local family that had built the property in 1963 and operated it ever since. Several factors made the space appealing, the Kopkos say. Despite the national decline in brick-and-mortar retail, the marketplace was nearly fully occupied, with more than 60% of tenants having operated there for more 20 years. It also has a kind of vintage, small-town sensibility, with storefronts connected by meandering hallways that are enclosed but retain an indoor-outdoor feel. Current tenants include a liquor store, barbershop, drug store, florist, sporting goods store, bike shop, laundromat, and sports-themed bar and grill, as well as the professional offices of a dentist, podiatrist, investment advisor, and more. Courtesy of Town of LansingThe shopping center in 1974. “We want to revamp the property to bring it into the modern day a bit,” says Kristen, an applied economics and management major in Dyson. “That means making slow improvements over time while keeping the charm that makes it so special.” Among the changes the couple is planning is replacing the windows in the signature atrium to let in more natural light. We want to revamp the property to bring it into the modern day a bit. That means making slow improvements over time while keeping the charm that makes it so special. Kristen Ferguson Kopko ’20 The space—which hosts the winter incarnation of the Ithaca Farmers Market—has long functioned as a central spot where visitors can sip coffee, meet friends, or attend events. Other potential upgrades include replacing aging ceiling tiles, updating signage, and creating new outdoor gathering spots with food trucks, picnic tables, and landscaping improvements. The current version of the familiar triangular sign. But for the duo, the marketplace’s future isn’t just about the building itself—it’s also about the merchants that occupy it, and the residents its serves. “It’s been us getting to know the community and its needs, talking to the people who live here,” says Kristen, “and then doing targeted outreach to strong businesses that we think fit the gaps.” The marketplace’s atrium has long functioned as a central spot where visitors can sip coffee, meet friends, or attend events. After identifying a need for more dining options in the area, for example, they recruited a Syracuse-based fish fry eatery and a restaurant serving Thai and Laotian food. They’re also expanding the events on offer throughout the year, hosting pop-ups that have included vintage goods, local artists and musicians, and fundraisers. Greeting a canine visitor at a shop that sells crafts by local artisans. Their priority, they say, is to ensure that the marketplace grows while remaining a spot where residents can gather and connect. “A lot of the charm is that you see familiar faces—the same owners, the same customers,” says Spencer. “Through your shopping, you form these relationships.” Top: The Kopkos outside Ithaca Bakery in the Triphammer Marketplace. (All photos by Sreang Hok / Cornell University, unless otherwise indicated.) Published June 15, 2026 Comments Jill M., Class of 1988 23 Jun, 2026 Wishing Kristen and Spencer the best! I look forward to stopping by during my next Reunion (or trip to Ithaca). All the best! Reply Nancy Goldberg, Class of 1957 23 Jun, 2026 Congratulations to both of you. I enjoyed working with you during your high school years. I am thrilled to know that you will upgrade the Mall. It has always been important to me and my family, especially when so many of them were at Cornell. I hope to see you soon. I recently saw your father, who is so proud of you. The best to both of you. Nancy Goldberg Reply Ray Reisler, Class of 1968 23 Jun, 2026 Nancy, I don’t know you and you don’t know me but I’m class of 1968 and I just read your comment atthe end of this wonderful article about the new owners of triphammer. I only want to say that your comment was touching and heartfelt and seemed to be the type of communication that doesn’t happen enough. Thanks! Reply Doug McIlroy, Class of 1954 23 Jun, 2026 Oof. A place that didn’t exist when I was in school is called “venerable”. That dates a lot of us. If a relatively new establishment is called venerable, I wonder what degree of antiquity Cornellians would assign to a relic like the classroom bench from Franklin Hall (1883) that I enjoy on my porch. In any case, it’s good to see older things put to current uses. Reply Bruce Tatusko BSCE 72, MPSHA 75, Class of 1972 23 Jun, 2026 That 1974 picture brought back a lot of memories. When it was taken, I worked Front Desk & Night Audit at that Sheraton Motor Inn, while getting my MPS at the Hotel School. My new wife, Sarah Elder, College Scholar ’73, and I lived in Gaslight Village Apartments just to the east. Reply John Henrehan, Class of 1971 23 Jun, 2026 Hosting the Farmers Market during the winter months seems like a clever idea. How many merchants participate (vs. the warm-months version)? Reply David Harding, Class of 1972 23 Jun, 2026 I remember when Triphammer Shopping Center opened. Jamesway was the first big box store in the area. While in high school I would occasionally walk out there from where we lived in Collegetown. It was a bit of a shock when Ithaca Sporting Goods moved there from Eddy Street. We sometimes visited the Sears catalog store. A friend’s parents opened Country Cousins (later Country Couple). Reply Michele (Payne) Koch, Class of 1985 23 Jun, 2026 Love this – I remember it very well from my childhood days as a “townie.” A lot of stores closed decades ago, but I also enjoyed the place again in college. Good luck with it! I’m sure a lot of folks will appreciate you pouring into it. Reply Rich Fontaine, Class of 1986 23 Jun, 2026 I fondly recall purchasing my first dress suits at The Country Couple in May 1986 for the new job I would be starting in July. The owner was so helpful. Talk about personalized service. I must have spent two hours there getting the right choices and proper fit. So rare to find these days. The suits, shirts and ties were incredibly fashionable by 1986 standards. I wish men still dressed that way for work, and that a store like that still existed near me. Reply Christian Nielsen-Palacios 23 Jun, 2026 I lived “across the street” several years while attending Cornell. The A&P supermarket was great (pre-Wegmans) and the Cheese Shop was amazing. When I had hair, Gene’s was my barbershop. Now the bakery and the winter markets are my favorite reasons to go. Reply Dmitri Faguet, Class of 1994 24 Jun, 2026 Great news! It was so sad to see gradual decline of Triphammer plaza area in recent years. It was a very social place to visit in past times, 30+ years ago. There was even a nice Radio Shack there, one of my favourite hobby stores — if you know what it is, these days. Keep fingers crossed for you. Good luck!!! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Students Undergrad’s Start-Up Lets You ‘Hear’ through its Eyeglasses Chime In How One Volunteer Gig Reminded Me What Sport Is Really For Alumni Alum Scores as Team Owner in First Women’s Pro Volleyball League