What some have called the “heart and soul of Riverside” is no longer. Wrecking crews have taken out the Riverside Men’s shop complex of buildings at Tonawanda and Ontario streets. Owner Charlie Faso applied for demolition permits to take down 783-89 Tonawanda Street and 190 Ontario Street in late January.
In March the Buffalo Preservation Board unanimously voted to “recommend not to demolish” 783 and 789 Tonawanda Street but supported demolition of a rear structure at 190 Ontario Street citing its poor condition. Unfortunately since the buildings were not in a preservation district or landmarked, the Preservation Board’s recommendation was just that, a recommendation. The City issued the permits and yet another corner landmark is gone.
Says Riverside native Doug Wasiura, “In its prime, Riverside Men’s Shop was a destination for people from all over Buffalo for fine clothing. And it signaled an era when Riverside was significant. What is interesting is that the wonderful people of the community are trying their hardest to bring it back to what it once was, and this building could have been the center point of that revival.”
No longer.
Photos courtesy of Forgotten Buffalo.