City October 7, 2010 5:45 PM

Peace, Love and Very Thin Pancakes!

Peace, Love and Very Thin Pancakes!
Today marks the official grand opening of Sweet_ness 7 on Parkside Avenue (corner of Russell Avenue). S7 diehard fans will be happy to know that the same interior design sense that made the Grant Street location so successful has spilled over to the newest locale. Both inside and out, the choice of colors, the use of original and reused wood and other elements throughout, and of course the infused energy all help to contribute to a look and feel that fluxuates from an authentic hookah bar to a Colorado chalet. It is homey to say the least.

The soft opening suited the low key, mellow ambiance, which also meshed with owner Prish Moran's vision for her new endeavor. "My goal is to add peace, love and very thin pancakes," Prish told me. "It's a community space - I want this to be a neighborhood coffee house and creperie. I know how to make crepes that people will love, but truthfully it's the same coffee shop as the one on Grant Street, but featuring pastries and crepes and NOT egg sandwiches... go to Grant Street for those!" As I talked to Prish, a member of the Parkside Association stopped in to ask about holding meetings at the space. As the two conversed, I examined my surroundings, making sure to take in each and every detail. The focal point of the cafe is a large round community table featuring a surface design by iconic graphic designer Michael Morgulis (formerly inlaid in a floor at Buffalo Hardwoods.. The design, "Buffalo, City of No Illusions" loosely translates into 'What you see is what you get", and that is exactly the mantra that speaks for the business.

Alex-Foote-Buffalo-NY.jpg

Prish is the type of person that exudes energy. The thoughtful work that she puts into the operation speaks for her the same way the community table evokes a similar message. Whether it's the barista tickling the ivories on the baby grand piano tucked into the corner, or the delicate antique exit sign nailed above the door, there is a friendly and peaceful vibe that transcends the space. Although the crepes were not being served today, visitors could still grab a coffee or a pastry. Prish anticipates the creperie to be open by the weekend. In the meantime, stop in for a cup of coffee and a pastry.

S7 | 299 Parkside | Buffalo NY

City-Illusions-Buffalo-NY.jpg

Prish-S7-Buffalo-NY.jpg

Feast-S7-Buffalo-NY.jpg
View image

Comments

Leave a comment

I really like the Grant St. location. My only questions is does this place have Air Conditioning? Cause man the original is inhospitable for half the summer.

That being said great to see them branching out, good food and excellent coffee.

Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

I got to check the place out on opening day, as well -- and what a fine day to make one's way over to the new Sweetness. Tomorrow will be nice as well (and the weekend), so everyone get out your walking shoes and make your over there through Delaware Park or the Parkside Neighborhood -- lovely either way.

In just the short amount of time I was there, people were wandering in delighted at the opening. Someone from the neighborhood was saying he can't always get over to Grant but now has his beloved Sweetness 7 within walking distance. Another woman out for a walk with her husband seemed to have a sort of religious experience when told that, yes, the place is now open!

The employees told me they're eager to get the Creperie up and running this weekend -- we agreed that the aroma will be priceless as it wafts out the door adding a grace note to the neighborhood.

Way to go, Prish -- best wishes and thank you again for helping make Buffalo a better place.

Score: 5 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

ooh, hope those crepes are available sunday morning. so excited!

Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Looks beautiful!! I will be in tomorrow morning, and many days a week after that... Will there some outside seating? A couple chairs or wood stumps and an awning perhaps? I hope!!

Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Great for weekend zoo-goers, and the place will probably have a built-in audience of St. Marks kids. Solid location, I know when I lived in the neighborhood as a kid I would have loved to have a coffee shop there... went through grammar school scraping by on Wilson Farms cappuccino.

Thumbs up, best of luck!

Score: 1 ( 1 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Outstanding, congrats on a great new venture in a great ol neighborhood! So inspiring to see Sweetness 7 growing, it's a truly warm place that makes our community better.

A baby grand piano, eh? Tune that thing and get an alcohol license, we could really have some fun after dark!

Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Good stuff, hopefully this project can rejuvenate this tiny stretch of commercial space. What needs to be done to turn Russel into a 2-way street though, because that is a killer for this stretch not being able to turn down there during the no-parking hours on Parkside.

Score: 3 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Wonderful. I live within walking distance and this is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood.

Score: 0 ( 0 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Prish does it again. She is amazing. Buffalo just got even cooler!

One way streets really hurt the Parkside neighborhood - as they do the West Side. The myth that they calm traffic and reduce speeding by restricting access is just that, a myth.

Parkside is an untapped neighborhood of potential chicness. Its demographics and history really provide an opportunity for hip, urban retailing - far more than what exists at present. Hmm...Main Street is beckoning...

Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

"Hmm...Main Street is beckoning..."

The Parkside Community association just got a $500,000 grant for the purpose of revitalizing it's section of Main Street. Hopefully some nice retail/restaurant outfits will move in there.. The old Parkside Candy is begging to become a restaurant/bar/bistro of some sort. Still full of original woodwork and seating... A solid middle class neighborhood that is really lacking these services.

I live in the neighborhood as well, and Russell as a one way is annoying. Cars don't go any faster down Oakwood, or even Jewett for that matter... And those are streets that cut through to Main..

Prish did a great job with the new location. I foresee it being difficult to find a seat..

replied to Nate Neuman
Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

i disagree with the 2 way street idea...this neighborhood is a walkable neighborhood and the businesses located here must serve the neighborhood first...the big misconception is that the zoo crowd is your market, that has always been false since that market dries up in the wintertime...previous businesses starved and died with this belief...that is your gravy market...a two way conversion invites non residents to speed through our neighborhood (like they already do illegaly) to avoid the traffic between parkside and amherst...we like it just the way it is. elmwood does just fine with one ways along the stretch between forest and bidwell and we will too.

other than that, we are delighted to have this business move in right into the heart of parkside, an already hip and cool urban neighborhood...the commercial stretch needs the right owners with the neighborhood's needs in mind to complete the vibe already existing here (as well as a makevover for wilson farms)
i know i have told you this many times prish, but i'll tell you again, thanks for making this happen!!! now can you pleeeease stop sawing at 7 in the mornrng! :D

Score: -2 ( 8 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

I completely disagree. One way streets encourage speeding. There is no reason to navigate slowly if there is never any opposing traffic to be concerned with. One way streets turn into thoroughfares. Streets are far safer with MORE traffic where drivers need to be alert to everything around them than streets that limit traffic and allow individual cars to race through without a concern for oncoming traffic.

Additionally as referenced, one ways really f'up neighborhood connectivity.

replied to elias
Score: 2 ( 4 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

I too disagree. I live in Parkside and I think Russell should be converted to two way traffic. Russell doesn't even go to Main Street, so I think it's very unlikely that people will use that street in lieu of Amherst. Jewett Parkway is used as a cut thru to the south. Businesses located in the commercial buildings near Russell will continue to struggle to survive without the ability of cars to turn onto Russell to unload passengers or look for parking. Parkside's traffic is just too fast. I think that lack of convenient parking/drop off will be a big obstacle for Prish's business at that location. The pizzeria next to Wilson Farms (regardless of the operator) has always survived based on customer's quickly parking at Wilson Farms. Wilson Farms itself doesn't survive solely on Parkside residents.

replied to elias
Score: 3 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Hey, don't be hatin' on Wilson Farms, dude. And,'sides, are us non-hip non-chic peeples not welcome? in the PSide too?

Score: -1 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

everyone is welcome...find a parking spot, ride your bike or take the bus, or walk over...i love wilson farms, not too crazy about its early 80s look...

as far as the traffic, russell and woodward are both 1 way, in the outbound direction, it keeps the traffic on parkside and amherst, as in those who feel its important to cut through and not wait for the light like everybody else during peak periods...it cuts down on traffic within this part of the neighborhood, all the adjacent blocks benefit from that...what's wrong with that?? we've been here for 10 years now and the only speeding issue we have dealt with is when someone goes down the wrong way, as if to not get caught or or have a resident say something to them...

as far as the previous businesses, they failed because they did not have either a good product, good service, good presentation or all three...i believe sweetness 7 will be very successful here because it has all three and is a very cool place to be...the neighbors seem to have already embraced it, and other people want to be a part of it too...they will find their way there...i really doubt a one way or lack of parking will kill the business, it seems to have a good business model...

Score: -2 ( 4 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

The exterior looks cheery. The inside looks cozy. And the delicious odors reaching out would pull us in.

What an unusual decore! Seriously rough-hewn works for this place! I have some assorted sheers (83"l, I think) that, seriously, I wonder if the owners would want?

We are restauranteers, meaning, we raised our family and now I prefer eating out--family members or friends often included. How many people can this place accommodate?

Oh! Taste them... a whole lot of very thin pancakes and lots of maple syrup and coffee and not having to clean up any sticky messes afterward... And crepes with blueberries and sour cream?...

(What IS on that menu?)

Has anyone here ever feasted on the all-you-can-eat incredibly thin pancakes at Moore's Sugar Shack off of route 19 near Arcade? Does that place still exist? We haven't been there in years and it is a long drive. When we pass near where Moore's might still be, it is not the limited time that they used to be open.

Sweetness 7 is much closer to home, especially on a cold Winter day. But, what are your hours, what is your menu, and what are the chances of finding a parking space on a Sunday?

And, what's a hookah bar?

Score: 0 ( 0 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Oh, so that's what a hookah bar is!!!

Other words that end in ah or sound like hookah:

Gullah, mullah and sulla. There are also tuh, uh, fuh and duh; its all Creole to me!

Score: -1 ( 1 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

elias - Only a traffic study would prove who's right or wrong, but the one way streets at Woodward and at Russell only divert traffic onto Summit and Jewett respectively. The adjacent blocks aren't benefitting. I agree that some of the businesses at the Parkside/Russell intersection have failed because the businesses were lemons. However, I have no doubt that potential successful businesses have avoided this location because of a lack of short-term parking. Too bad considering that Wilson Farms seems to do a good business and all the afternoon/evening commuter traffic to other parts of North Buffalo.

I went into this store yesterday. It was obviously a huge improvement and I was glad to see people both inside and outside of the store. The house coffee was very good. Not too bitter nor to weak. My primary criticism is that it is difficult to tell if the store is open or closed. The big wooden front door and the shears on the front windows don't allow you to see into the store and give you any clue if the place is open. If people weren't sitting outside, I would've thought it was closed. More is needed to signal that the business is open than a smiley face flag. Also, hopefully once the business becomes established and fully operational, it will have some evening hours later in the week. 6 pm closing time Mon-Sat is too early IMO.

Hope that this store is successful and leads other business to explore opportunities around Parkside.

Score: 1 ( 1 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

The Lemon Crepe consisted of 2 cold crepes folded in two , 2 small dollops of lemon flavored whip cream and 1 thin slice of lemon for $6.50. you got to be kidding.

Score: 0 ( 0 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Leave a comment

Buffalo Rising Poll