Dolci Busts A Move

Yesterday I almost drove up the sidewalk into the Blue Monk when I saw that the Elmwood Dolci location was for rent. Today I Googled "dolci buffalo" and searched for news. Thanks, BR, because I didn't know what I'd do without Burnt Caramel Sea Salt gelato...especially after I told everyone in LA about Dolci.

unfortunately it's called staving off bankruptcy, I think the business will vanish by next year.

This is good news for Grant St and finally things are starting to happen there. Yes if Dolci gets priced out of Elmwood not necessarily a good sign for them, but some time ago it was not worth it to try moving the business to Grant St. Most retail operations are very difficult and close eventually (and are replaced by others) but I was them success.

Well, this is mixed news indeed but I'm glad to see that the Grant location will finally be open for retail. I know they were doing all their manufacturing there for quite a while. It will be great to have another retail storefront active on that block of Grant.

location, location, location. Trouble in paradise if moving off Elmwood. No business equals can't pay rent equals struggle on Grant. Really, they could not reinvent themselves? I really find that hard to believe. Oh well, sorry to see them move over there. Good luck.

If commercial rents in the EV have been going up as much as residences, it would be understandable that some of the businesses would seek out cheaper rents in the area. If that is the case here, the move is good news.

I, too, was shocked to see it gone. Glad to hear it's not gone for good, just gone from Elmwood.

Here's hoping that another business takes its place soon. It's sad to see two store fronts in the very heart of the Elmwood Village (Dolci and the former Thunder Bay/Pavlov's Frogs) sitting empty.

it is my understanding that dolci's owner got tired of dealing with a neglectful out of town landlord who is uninterested in making repairs or maintaining the property. just another example of irresponsible landlords on elmwood trying to strangle the life out of the strip.

streamlining and looking for lower rent = a business struggling for survival

I don't know who owns their former location on Elmwood. I do remember that building being actively for sale a couple of years ago, when Buffalo property was hot for out of town investors from the coasts. I'm sure someone paid top of the market to buy the asset, based on the income/expense the building generated from rents. The problem is that there is often nothing left over from rents after paying mortgage and other necessities in this kind of investment, especially if you get in at the top of the market.

I'm sure the rent was too high (I remember talking about it with Dolci at the time the building was for sale a couple of years ago and they were unhappy then with the high rent then and they had no interest in buying the place because they thought it needed too much). And I'm sure the building was too poorly maintained. It would fit the profile of a buyer being caught in a squeeze by limited income and maximum outgo. But that squeeze is now tighter until some new tenants start picking up the freight again.

Before David Simpson purchased the business from the original owner, I was a consistent customer usually stopping in on a weekly basis and for any birthday or dinner party I might need goodies for. I stopped going there when I stopped in to order a cake 3 days before I needed it and David said they were too busy to take my order. Never went back after that.

This would be the perfect spot for an Ikea!

This would be a good spot for a Trader Joes Express, Wholefoods Express, or a good spot to relocate the KFC that closed on Elmwood/Bryant.

It's a tough market for a business like this. Your upscale-urban type that's getting a bit older is becoming more health conscious. For those with less disposable income, and less discerning taste, our fat and happy with a bag of Oreo's.

The venturing into healthier alternatives turns off the 'I want a big cannoli crowd', and probably doesn't drive enough traffic to cover costs. Been there, done that with this kind of business. I hope they make it, but the target market for them get's smaller by the day.

By the way, three days on a cake order, if your doing volume (shift a wholesale cake already in the pipeline) shouldn't be a problem. Unless it had some kind of special decoration (recreate Jimmy on top of Elmo, with three fingers up for his third birthday...) you'd think three days would be fine. An owner of a small shop like this must realize you can't just say no. You do it, and you drive customers away, and you won't be open long. A sad fact of doing business in a shrinking market.

Ahhhh... another positive sign of gentrification. High rents leading to displaced business and displaced residents equals gentrification.

Textbook example of gentrification. Don't call it renewal. Renewal results in entry for all, not just those with the economic ability.

Sadly for those west of Richmond, its spilling over your way.

4matic-
Like omonahan - I too would like to bet you a thousand dollars also that Dolci will still be on Grant street in a year. You don't have to worry about revealing your identity when I win. I will just send you my address and you can send me the money that way.

Elmwood Shlmwwod once the present generation gets over it self that whole area will be slowly emptied out.EV is slowly losing it's charm and with the rising rent and entertainment prices.Twenty something kids don't have the $$ to live or start a businesses there.Get out while you can.

It is the greedy landlords on Elmwood - who in response to Elmwoods success decided to raise the rents to astronomical amounts- that will eventually do Elmwood in.
It is difficult to make a profit there. A shop I inquired about to rent 12 years ago went from $400 a month rent to $2,000 a month a few years later.
Those landlords make moving to Grant street a sensible alternative. Grant street is going to be the place to "be" anyway with all the fascinating shops and businesses that have been cropping up there. There is another new Hispanic resturant/bakery opening on Forest avenue (near Grant street)sometime soon. There is also a new resturant opening next door to the Yoga place (acroos from the M&T bank on Grant street. I forgot what it is called but I think they are going to have Somailian specialties. The diversity is fun.

This place is moving less than 3/4 of a mile. Why the hell is everyone so concerned one way or the other?

"Billo"

You are correct. If a landlord starts charging 5 times more for rent than they used to ( I witnessed it) it has no effect/impact on anything.

If you own a small retail establishment and pay rent, you begin to feel after a while that if you don't own the space, you don't own much.

There are two kind of rent increases. The first is an increase because of a general improvement in the area. The second is a more punitive increase that a landlord thinks they can get a way with because an operation is profitable, and perhaps locked into the location.

A small business that moves because they've purchased a building is far more likely to come to a good end, than a business that moves from one rental to another.

What is a reasonable rent increase? I am renegotiating a commercial lease and want to be fair to the landlord while not accepting an unfair increase just because we are successful. Anyone here privy to commercial rents on the lower west side?

Al L. - "This place is moving less than 3/4 of a mile. Why the hell is everyone so concerned one way or the other?"

Agreed. The EV is not the only viable spot for Dolci. I do wish they would have moved to Hertel but that's my neighborhood bias talking since I love Dolci.

Gino's is awesome too, non doubt, but they don't have Dolci's gelato.

I'm a West Sider and I can't wait to stop at Dolci's on Grant St. after I grab a coffee and breakfast at Sweetness_7, pick up some flowers at April's, and stop in Guercio's for some fresh vegetables. I just might have to drive down the Street to Amherst and stop in Spar's for some sausage, and while there, browse Gallery 464 and the Habitat Restore.
Isn't it great that Buffalo has more than one area with some unique spots to frequent!
Who knows what other interesting places may spring up in these areas?

I'd love to see what a $400 apartment in the Elmwood Village looks like these days. 10 years ago, mine was about 500sf, with an additional $400 heating bill.

I'd also be willing to bet that nearly any business that has been open in the same location for, let's say, 10 years....owns the building they're in. Otherwise, they've been gouged to the point that they've left the neighborhood, or gone out of business entirely.

And anyone smart that wants to buy an home with tons of original character but doesn't have $300k should take $50k to the lower west side.

The EV will be left with frat houses, people who have a ton of money and live next to frat houses, and people who are lifers and now are stuck next to people who think they're awesome because they have a ton of money and frat houses.