Downtown is gaining a new dining option. Risa's Deli & Catering, formerly on Hertel Avenue, has inked a deal to open at 285 Delaware Avenue in late fall. Specializing in homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts, Risa's will offer both sit-down or take-out dining options for breakfast and lunch as well as delivery service.
"I've
been in the restaurant for over 30 years and as the only truly N.Y.-style deli
in the area, I look forward to offering my clientele a convenient, comfortable
and affordable place to eat," said Risa Paonessa, owner and manager. "The
catering services we provide will also prove to be extremely valuable to
businesses that are looking for a unique and tasty eating experience, brought
right to their door."
Using
old family recipes and quirky sandwich names (the Ben "Vereen" features corned
beef and pastrami on rye with mustard), Paonessa believes working professionals
in the downtown business district as well as the nearby Buffalo Niagara Medical
Campus are looking for a dining option that combines excellent food and fast,
friendly service.
"Even
though fast food is an essential part of the restaurant business, I feel that
people are looking for more fresh alternatives," she said.
285 Delaware Avenue, located between Chippewa and West Tupper Streets, is a 116,800 square foot, five-story office building, opened in 2007. M&T Bank occupies three of the office floors. Environmental services firm Conestoga-Rovers & Associates has 22,000 sq.ft. on the fifth floor. In total, nearly 400 employees work in the $12 million building.
Will they be set up with a door opening to the street, or just inside the building? That building seems to have been built with the idea of street-facing retail in mind, but I'm not sure if those are functional doors opening into real spaces or just window bays (I've only ever seen Christmas trees in them). Looking at an archived BR post, it seems they are just windows, and the door into the deli would be from inside the lobby. Kind of a shame, although this is still a nice step forward.
I don't know what's up with Risa's old location. The Mediterranea restaurant that took it over failed last month and I think the Bean and Leaf store next to it is still vacant.