RIT Students Offer Broadway Market Solutions

They can start by losing the 1988 teal and Pepto Bismol color scheme...

The Broadway Market still can't seem to think of itself as anything but a Polish market. The garage-like setting in a devastated inner city neighborhood doesn't help, but short of moving and building a new market, you have to work with what you've got. Also, without the Market, the future of the last remnants of Polonia -- the remaining Polish cultural organization, neighborhood taverns, churches, and the babushka holdouts -- may be even more endangered.

Aside from the central location and phenomenal architecture, Cleveland's West Side Market is successful because it's a multi-ethnic destination. Same thing with public markets in Hamilton and St. Catharines.

I'm afraid that it's impossible to overcome the dismal Parking Ramp Atmosphere, as Dan says. Even when the Market was full of customers and merchants, it felt like a concrete cavern. Once the trolley cars left Broadway & Fillmore, this thing was built and it's been downhill ever since.

I say: demolish it & build a NEW City Market in the vicinity of the old Black Rock Market (currently the Grant/Amherst parking lot) or someplace on the West Side.

They can extend the 5pm to at least 7pmish. and Open on Sundays too. Not everyone can get to this side of town Mon-Sat. before 5pm. And update the 1950's interior and make it more old world (since it was built in 1888) but modern. Have decorative wooden frames around the storefronts with large glass, boutique style signage in and out, be picky on what kind of retailers locate here. Last I was there, it had alot of JUNK Stores selling crappy t-shirts and dollar store junk. No wonder it's hard to get people here all year long.

I completely agree that it is time for the Broadway Market to shed its Polish traditions and embrace something for everyone. Especially in today's world you say Piergi, Sausage, Glombki (sp?) and people run for the hills because of the fat alone.

They need to open up to Somalians, Arabs, Asians, Germans.. Today's Buffalo. They need to make it a draw for more than just the descendants of 12% of the population.

multi-ethnic offerings would certainly bring me in.

I don't think the idea for this is all that ground breaking, we are in what many consider an unhospitable environment. In the summer and fall months there are countless local farmers markets, while in the winter these are either significantly smaller or close all together. Why don't we think "regionally" and try to tie in all these smaller out door markets into the BM for the late fall, winter and early spring. I know some people are going to come back with there is no local produce during that time, that is true there may not be corn or carrots, but there is pumpkins, syrup, xmas trees.

I also think you can get school groups and other charities more involve down here. Have choirs perform, bring in the old folks activity vans. I know some people will say why would anyone go down there for that, but security there is pretty easy its relatively self contained. If you look at the events at the central terminal it show if you have the draw people will come regardless.

Those who say they would like to remove the market maybe downtown or elmwood. Just remember, great neighborhoods make great cities not just great downtowns. On the weekend go to the financial district in NYC, Boston, Dallas they are dead, they are just that business districts which occurs 9-5 ish Mon-Fri. We need a diverse city with successful neighborhoods all over, not just a few tall buildings and one street with lots of Buffalo NY shot glasses and and $70 shirts. (I love elmwood so don't get angry, just calling a spade a spade)

I was part of an effort put forth two years ago by a group of people who wanted to start an Art and Antiques market (similar to Bostons Faneuil Hall with street entertainers and restaurants, etc.) in the old Downtown DLW train station.
The downtown farmers market is a hit but shuts down for the winter. The Broadway Market is struggling.
I wish that original concept to have a market in the DLW would have taken off - the Broadway market vendors could have moved in and the farmers market could sell in the winter - plus it would be on the water.

just close the place and open a real international market at the waterfront. Like the fish this place sells, it's just stinks.

Broadway Market could be a 'hit' if it just updated, cleaned up, and had better offerings. That including a better surrounding in it's neighborhood. Not much really in the Broadway Fillmore anymore to draw people from outside the city (besides the holiday treats at the BM). If the community, developers and local leaders WORKED TOGETHER and lured better retailers, eateries, cleaner streets, and new development, this area could be a beautiful place to visit and live.

Good to seeb the students at RIT coming in and helping out. Maybe it is a good lesson for the UB planning students to actually get off their QB lounge chairs and help in the community.

My favorite Markets are the St. Lawrence (South) in Toronto http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/ and the Rochester Public Market http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uboqBm2Jt3c

Buffalo needs a better Public Market.

Everything at the BM (ha!) looks really goofy and weird. Not that that's terrible, but they either got to stop trying to be less funky or upgrade the ambience significantly. I vote for funky. Let it be everybody's dirty little secret. I say go for the Tokyo fish market look.

Any chance of the RIT students taking over planning for Skyway Side?

My immediate thought? Why RIT? Why not UB or Buffalo State?

My next thought browsing through the proposal seemed like recommendations from commercial interior decorators and facilities property managers: Signage, floor and wall markings, color coding.

Nice: yes
Necessary: yes

Does it contribute to urban, regional or extra-regional branding? not really

Does it connect to 1880s or 1950s history of the market? not really

Does it connect to the reputation for cultural and culinary entrepreneurs, the small businesses that grew into major brands, etc? Not really.

Does it change the dead wall space on the 3 sides of the facility that creates a dead streetscape for the pedestrian? Nope! Not at all.

Does it reach out to the local community and preservationists that are very strong supporters and patrons for the markets survival? Nope

What would I like to have seen?

1) knock out the blank 1950s brick walls on the pedestrian street scape and put in 1880s style windows with displays that can be rented for advertising by interior retailers. Thus creating both a historic themed pedestrian street scape, a dynamic and informative street scape and firmly establishes branding of the facility and branding for the retailers.

2) plan for replacement of street lighting with some type of gas lamp either in say sconces hanging off the walls of the building or in actual street lamps. Something more vibrant, energetic, inviting, even romantic rather than the greyish yellow street lighting.

3) how about something reminiscent of the 1880s version precursur to the 1950s current version by emulating the Genesee Gateway project. Add empire style widows walk...

These things to me combine the history of Broadway Market and give an urban version of say Main Street in Williamsville, Orchard Park, East Aurora, etc. All of which are so inviting that a family feels both safe, almost wants to just take a drive past the window displays to see new sales and products, and stop even if only for coffee.

I would like to see a new market build on the existing market. Something real nice. I'm talking hundreds of millions of dollars, I'm talking full blown: built to the curb so people would have to walk in the streets, 20 stories or higher, mixed use, it would house a high end hotel, business like Google and SAP. We just need some vision and some great drugs.