I grew up in Leesburg, but after high school, I left the town for a decade. Now that I'm back, I'm constantly amazed by all of the new stores and restaurants in town.I love exploring Leesburg now, both on my own and with my family, and visiting both the old favorites and the new discoveries.

One of my new favorite places is Shoes Cup & Cork Club, located at 17 N. King St., in Historic Downtown Leesburg.

I'll admit that it was the free wi-fi that initially drew me to the coffee shop, but it's the delicious coffee and food that keeps me coming back. The fare at Shoes goes way beyond typical coffee shop selections, which is good, because one can only have so many scones.

In addition to an assortment of pastries and hot breakfast sandwiches, Shoes has an adventurous lunch and dinner menu, which includes a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches, but also more substantial entrees, including a goat cheese ravioli that I'm really interested in trying out.

At the end of the day though, you really can't beat a coffee shop that sells booze. Sorry, Starbucks. With over 20 wines and a dozen beers on the menu, Shoes is just as good of a place to end your day as it is to begin it.

During warmer weather, their back patio called, "The Secret Garden," is truly a hidden gem. There's plenty of room to spread out and bring friends for lunch, and if you go there in the evening, you could hear live music from the adjacent Lightfoot patio.

As fun of a hangout as Shoes is, let's not gloss over the coffee. My personal favorite is the wide cappuccino (drink sizes come in either narrow or wide, a nod to the building's shoe repair past) with skim milk, though I often find myself just getting a giant mug of the house blend.

I adore coffee, but I'm far from a coffee snob. Shoes doesn't overly complicate matters. Sure, you can get elaborate drinks, but the more ingredients you have, the easier it seems to be to hide bad coffee. They start with a great base at Shoes, so you know that no matter what you get, it's going to be delicious.

I'm typically there during the week, when the crowd is mostly professionals who work downtown and fellow work-at-home folks camped out with our laptops. During the afternoon, you'll also see a fair amount of high school kids who use it as a gathering spot. It's a lively and eclectic bunch, making Shoes a prime spot for people watching.

So if you're looking for a new hangout or place to work, stop on by — I'll probably see you there!