Margaret Falco Money and her husband, Kyle Money, come from entrepreneurial families who own multiple businesses locally. Eight months ago, they opened The Brickyard as an events venue at 6425 state Route 7 in Maryland.
This family-owned and operated venue is next to the Cooperstown railroad junction and features a fully restored, historic 1926 railroad car. The couple named their business The Brickyard because bricks were one of the commodities shipped by the railroads.
The couple celebrated their own wedding reception on the site. In fact, it is what inspired them to turn the 4,000 square foot facility into an events venue. “It’s a large open concept floor plan,” Falco Money said. The space can accommodate 138 people. There is a bar, buffet area and a large banquet room with a dance floor and stage for live performances in addition to the passenger railroad car dining space.
“We are now eager to welcome more weddings and are confident our beautiful, versatile space is ideal for any occasion,” Falco Money said. The Brickyard also hosts corporate events, receptions, baby showers and birthday parties.
“Whether someone envisions an elegant, classy affair or a relaxed, casual gathering, our venue can be styled to perfectly match their vision,” she said. The cost depends on the size of the party, the type of event and the duration.
The business is open year-round. The facility is heated and air conditioned. It has a liquor license and can provide catering. “We enjoy hosting between 75 to 100 (people). That range allows everyone to enjoy the space comfortably,” Falco Money said.
“Having parents and extended family members with decades of business experience has been incredibly helpful,” she said. “My parents, in particular, have been a constant source of guidance and support.”
Before venturing out on her own, Falco Money worked at her parents’ business, Undercover Eggplant, for 12 years. Her husband owns Money’s Tile Company. In addition, he worked for Town and Country Tree Experts in Mount Vision since he was 17.
“My husband, Kyle, brings a great deal of experience to the business and an equally strong work ethic,” Falco Money said.
“Growing up in a family-owned business gave me access to hands-on experiences and responsibilities that I likely wouldn’t have had in a traditional job at that age,” she said. “Working there gave me a strong foundation in business operations and customer service, while building confidence and practical skills that have continued to benefit me professionally.”
With her experience in the food business, Falco Money offers many catering options at The Brickyard. “We do cater ourselves in-house and love working with our Undercover Eggplant team for events,” Falco Money said. In March, The Brickyard worked with Artistic Table, a vegan and vegetarian caterer. “Chef Renee did a fantastic job,” she said.
The Brickyard has also worked with Sunrise Specialty Catering, owned by Mark and Janet Quackenbush.
“We highly recommend regional bands, solo acoustic acts and outside caterers who want to work with us to reach out and contact us directly so we can grow our referral list for future weddings and events,” Falco Money said.
Background
From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, the corner property was a sit-down Italian restaurant known as Falco’s Junction. It was owned and operated by her parents, Karen and Fred Falco of Undercover Eggplant.
Fred Falco purchased the 1926 passenger car from the late Walter Rich in 1989, she said. “Weighing 82 tons, moving it actually ended up costing far more than buying the car itself.” Rich was chairman of the board of Delaware Otsego Corporation of Cooperstown, the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway and Central New York Railroad.
For history buffs, the passenger car originally served on the NYSW. “We also had a dear friend, Kent Kline, repaint ‘Susquehanna’ on the car earlier this year — the same original lettering that had been there when I was kid,” she said.
Established in 1869, the Cooperstown & Susquehanna Valley Railroad ran for 16 miles, connecting the village of Cooperstown with Cooperstown Junction. Today, the Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad operates an excursion train on six miles of those tracks from Milford.
“The railroad moved the car from Utica to Oneonta, and the Oneonta crew then delivered it to Cooperstown Junction,” she said. “From there, it was lifted by crane onto dollies, transported across Route 7, and lifted once more onto the custom track my dad had built on our property.
“My father did the vast majority of the heavy restoration work himself back in the early 1990’s,” Falco Money said. Multiple family members assisted with the latest restorations to get The Brickyard ready for its reopening.
The Falco family is originally from Staten Island and settled in the Oneonta area 35 to 40 years ago. “There’s quite a lot of us,” she said. Falco Money was born and raised in Oneonta.
For more information, visit https://www.thebrickyardvenue.com/