Lu Modern Classics has closed. The clothing retailer has shut its store at 504 Elmwood Avenue and is expected to reopen September 15th at 3995 North Buffalo Road in Orchard Park. According to the store's phone message, a new city location will be opening "in October." Word on the street is the owners are looking for cheaper and perhaps smaller space elsewhere on Elmwood. RealtyUSA is rumored to be taking the space Lu Modern vacated. RealtyUSA's city residential office would be moving to 504 Elmwood from 361 Delaware Avenue where the commercial side of the office is expected stay.
Completed in 2007 at a cost of $1.5 million, 504 Elmwood replaced an older commercial structure on the site. The contemporary building includes nine apartments and 3,100 sq.ft. of commercial space.
The new building brought new life to what has been a struggling block of Elmwood. Some have blamed the block's troubles on its layout. The City did not narrow the street and expand the sidewalks during an Elmwood streetscape project undertaken under former Mayor Anthony Masiello's watch. Masiello caved to a few loud-mouthed business owners wanting to preserve the ability of customers and delivery drivers to double-park.
Unrealistic building owners may contribute to the vacancies. A few of the storefronts have been empty for over two years.
But the block is well positioned and has drawn investment. Bank of America recently completed a makeover of a former Pier One store (below) and Neo relocated to the block from Allen Street. At the corner of Elmwood and Bryant, attorney Michael Ferdman and architect Karl Frizlen are close to starting their mixed-use project on the site of a former KFC restaurant.
Despite the dubious landlords and the shame of the Sweetooth location being unoccupied for so long, a tip of the hat should go to the Europa restaurant. What a nice success story on that block.