Earlier this afternoon my girlfriend and I stopped over to Guercio's Market on Grant Street to pick up some dinner supplies. As we walked around the market I could not help but notice a vibrant array of colors displayed across the street. I kept looking out the window wondering what (and who) had set up an outdoor stand. That's the thing about Grant Street. Unlike other commercial districts that might be a bit more structured, there is an organic-ness about Grant that always keeps me guessing. One day a storefront might be empty - the next day a vendor might set up. My girlfriend always tells me that Grant Street reminds her of life in a bigger cosmopolitan city. The people. The products. The pulse. The Grit.
When the high schools let out there are young people standing on every corner waiting for rides and joking around. There's a different vibe during the weekend when the businesses are in full swing. Like today. That temporary display of clothes and jewelry that had caught my eye was just one of the many stands that added to the urban flare. Upon closer inspection, the purveyor was peddling colorful Indian dresses and inexpensive ethnic bangles. Upon leaving Guercio's we walked across the street to examine the goods. Jokingly, I asked the lady who had set up the street-side market if the name of her store was Sweet Sound Music. I pointed to the sign above her and she smiled. She had set up in front of a music shop that appeared to have moved next door. Ah, if only we could see more of this sort of symbiotic hosting. No need for electricity. Filling in an empty gap. Bringing added life to a block. Providing exposure for the empty storefront. What isn't there to dig about this scenario?
There are a bunch of obscure finds on Grant Street. And I'm not sure that all of the individual store signs actually broadcast exactly what you'll find inside each one. But that kinda adds to the sense of adventure. I've spotted a couple windows showcasing nice antiques. Another has popped up with some cool old bikes. There are some hand-me-down places that I want to visit as well. Last summer I walked into a market and ran into what looked like a whole dead goat - that's one that I'll avoid in the future, though the sight only reinforced the omnipresence of cultures that one cannot avoid when exploring. I'm looking forward to an upcoming post by Francesca Maines, which will give some insight into one of my latest favorite haunts on the street - The Meating Place. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I'm hoping to dig up some more Grant staples while continuing to shed light on a few up and coming goodies that will surely please lucky West Side residents.
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When the high schools let out there are young people standing on every corner waiting for rides and joking around. There's a different vibe during the weekend when the businesses are in full swing. Like today. That temporary display of clothes and jewelry that had caught my eye was just one of the many stands that added to the urban flare. Upon closer inspection, the purveyor was peddling colorful Indian dresses and inexpensive ethnic bangles. Upon leaving Guercio's we walked across the street to examine the goods. Jokingly, I asked the lady who had set up the street-side market if the name of her store was Sweet Sound Music. I pointed to the sign above her and she smiled. She had set up in front of a music shop that appeared to have moved next door. Ah, if only we could see more of this sort of symbiotic hosting. No need for electricity. Filling in an empty gap. Bringing added life to a block. Providing exposure for the empty storefront. What isn't there to dig about this scenario?
There are a bunch of obscure finds on Grant Street. And I'm not sure that all of the individual store signs actually broadcast exactly what you'll find inside each one. But that kinda adds to the sense of adventure. I've spotted a couple windows showcasing nice antiques. Another has popped up with some cool old bikes. There are some hand-me-down places that I want to visit as well. Last summer I walked into a market and ran into what looked like a whole dead goat - that's one that I'll avoid in the future, though the sight only reinforced the omnipresence of cultures that one cannot avoid when exploring. I'm looking forward to an upcoming post by Francesca Maines, which will give some insight into one of my latest favorite haunts on the street - The Meating Place. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, I'm hoping to dig up some more Grant staples while continuing to shed light on a few up and coming goodies that will surely please lucky West Side residents.
Well Grant is most definitely changing. It was only 1 year ago that I said that low margin Elmwood businesses should consider moving to Grant and got angry responses.
However...once the B-P was finished, then property values rose even further prompting the corner of Elmwood/Forest to be purchased for another version of a multi-story residential project (the first proposal was a hotel). Rising property values meant many longtime Elmwood businesses with very low rents and profit margins have to relocate.
What was once organic and gritty on Elmwood is becoming organic and gritty on Grant.
A very strong proposal for the Richardson is to make it a CONFERENCE CENTER for westside colleges (Buffalo State, Medaille, Canisius, D'Youville), the Culturals (A-K, B-P & BECHS) and the local Business District.
The Grant/Amherst and the Grant/Ferry could go along way toward assisting the development of Grant if they lobbied Buffalo State to move more non-academic offices to Grant Street. Perfect examples would be the Bursars Office and the Bookstore where students would have easy access.
s Buffalo State has grown, it really needs to focus its core campus on academics...and move non-academic functions to the periphery of the campus...as its doing with the new proposed Stadium on the old Car impound....follow thru with that theme and the dynamics of Grant being viable for apartments and businesses will follow.