If Stacy and Paul Richmond have learned anything through twenty-nine years of marriage and one year as business partners, it’s that friends, connections, and memories matter most. Those three words are the motto stamped above the door of Latitude 42 Taphouse, which just celebrated its first year of business in Horseheads, and, as Paul says, “that’s what we believe in.”

“That’s our mission,” he adds. “We’re not here just to pound beers down.”

“The community has been overwhelmingly supportive. We’ve reconnected with old friends, and we’ve met so many new friends,” says Stacy.

The anniversary celebration on Saturday, August 30, started in the afternoon with an employee-only gathering, but then those old and new friends started trickling in, then pouring in as the night progressed. Many floated from table to table, from indoors to out, convening around the self-pour taps that make Latitude 42 so distinctive.

The self-pour, pay-by-the-ounce model isn’t widely seen in the Twin Tiers, but the Richmonds say it’s been welcomed with open arms and empty glasses. The concept is simple: tap, pour, drink, and pay. Self-pour gives patrons the power to sample as much—or as little—as they’d like, with glasses of all sizes and shapes, and options to make your own flights.

Taps at Latitude 42 are grouped in threes, with a screen above each displaying the name and pertinent info about each libation. After obtaining a tap card—the card keeps track of the ounces you pour—at the front desk, choose your glass, tap the card against the pad above your selection, angle your glass, and pull the tap. Pour just a sip or an entire glass—the choice is yours, because you’re your own bartender.

The selections change with the seasons, with recommendations from their distributors, or from Stacy and Paul, based on their travels around the country and formations of new partnerships. They try to have something for everyone—from cider, wine, and beer, from the darkest stout to the lightest blonde ale, locally crafted, imported, and domestic, and non-alcoholic selections. Included in the twenty-four currently available are well-known Miller Lite and Guinness, local seasonal brews like 1911’s Cider Donut, and Stacy’s personal favorite, Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale by Lexington Brewing & Distilling.

“You’ve got to try this,” she says, whipping out her own tap card, her face lighting up as if she’s about to let a new friend in on her own little secret. The medium-bodied ale swishes into the glass, and when it’s pulled back, a perfect, slightly foamy head rests on top like a crown. The first taste is what one might expect from a barrel-aged ale with vanilla notes, but the aftertaste is what earns it the title of a bar owner’s favorite. It’s like a smoky vanilla breath mint, not too sweet or overpowering, but with an unexpected burst of flavor after the liquid is already down your gullet.

“I feel like it makes my breath smell good,” says Stacy with a laugh, happy that she’s converted yet another person. It’s just one of the brews she and Paul discovered on their various trips, which also influenced the concept of Latitude 42.

“Our daughters both played travel softball, so we’ve traveled to a lot of places around the country, and this was something a little bit different than we’ve seen,” says Stacy, adding that they’ve visited self-pour establishments in Atlanta and Charlotte, with the closest being in Owego. “We wanted to think of something that we could do in retirement. We wanted to do something where we could give back and make it a place for the community.”

While the Richmonds are still working full time, both in education, they couldn’t pass up the perfect location when it came on the market last year, 467 Old Ithaca Road, Horseheads. Its latitude is, guess what, 42.

“We live right up the street. I saw the building was for sale, so we jumped on it. It was a perfect point in our life where we’re now empty nesters. It was just something that came about with the encouragement of the community and our neighbors and friends,” says Stacy.

In return, the Richmonds are using their venture to give back. In June, Latitude 42 hosted a cancer walk to benefit the Falck Cancer Center patient care fund, which, as a cancer survivor, Stacy says was near and dear to her heart.

“We had such a great turnout. We did three different walks throughout the day, just around the neighborhood for a mile. We also had Blush Salon come, and we just really celebrated survivors but also celebrated the lives that we’ve lost,” she says, adding that they’ve also collaborated with fellow Old Ithaca Road establishments Horseheads Brewing Co., Sonny’s Bar and Grille, and Nick’s Bar and Grille to host a Shamrock Shuffle, SantaCon, and Christmas in July events to raise money for the local food bank, cancer center, and the Chemung County SPCA.

Latitude 42 also hosts weekly trivia nights, workshops, and, new this year, it’s a certified Bills Backers bar, and will be open for all Buffalo Bills football games. The space is available to rent for gatherings and is kid- and dog-friendly, with furry visitors even getting their own selection of NA all-natural dog beer, wine, or pup cups.

“We don’t really think of ourselves as a bar or a taphouse,” says Paul. “It’s more like a community center.”

Latitude 42 Taphouse is open Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday 12 to 9 p.m., Sunday 2 to 8 p.m., and closed Monday except for special events. For the most up-to-date info, find Latitude 42 Taphouse on Facebook or call (607) 526-5242.