As Buffalo's bridal headquarters, The Lafayette Hotel, speeds towards opening day, another Buffalo business is heading along for the ride.
Ali Eagan, owner of Elmwood Avenue's custom fashion design shop, Made by Anatomy (facebook), will be packing up her custom designs before reopening as a custom bridal showroom and design showroom at The Hotel Lafayette. "I am SO super excited!" Ali told me. "Anatomy will be open and functioning [on Elmwood] normally until May 13th. Thereafter we will move to the hotel for the opening on May 29th. So we're trying to sell out of the anatomy Ready2Wear (RTW) collection before then. I will be working in the hotel and utilizing it as a showroom more than a boutique; however, I will have a small selection of bridal-type items to buy, like fancy jewelry, head pieces, lingerie, pjs, etc (all from local artisans!). The goal for anatomy is to create a complete bridal salon, from soup to nuts. I'll even have a couple of friend/professionals on call for hair and makeup for the brides getting married in the hotel. I will offer the entire Made2Measure (M2M) collection, not just bridal. The business is being driven by brides though, so it makes sense to specialize in that going forward. I'm way beyond thrilled that I'm being given the opportunity to be a part of the continued revival of downtown. I mean, the space is SO beautiful. I can't wait!"
Image: Tess Moran Photography (facebook)
great news......Looks like Elmwood is losing another tenant-----Someone at Elmwood Village Association has to really sit down and rethink what they are doing there....Successful stores and restaurants are popping up on Amherst street, Lexington, Hertel,...more than a few have just moved out of Elmwood strip area....I cant tell you how long a few of these commercial slips have been vacant....
I know they can demand lower lease rates from owners but something has to change- Pizza shops and Tatto parlors cant canvas all of the Elmwood area.......
Yet Elmwood has lower vacancy than I can ever remember. You're suggesting that other commercial areas are growing at the expense of Elmwood? I think that is hardly the case. I think Elmwood is raising all boats in a sense - it has revitalized the idea of the city as the trendy place to eat, drink and shop - which is having significant spin-off impacts on surrounding areas. Elmwood is doing fantastic and other places like Amherst, Grant, Hertel are growing leaps and bounds. Its great news all around.
They aren't leaving because they don't like Elmwood. It was always the goal of Hotel Lafayette to have wedding specific businesses, I think they are just jumping at the opportunity to get in on the action.
I don't know what you are talking about. New storefronts are added with a growing inventory of businesses every year on Elmwood.
Its more about the type of stores and longevity along with greedy owners who are so out of touch with the real numbers that will make these properties more attractive.....Mode location is looking for 8k a month to run the establishment.....The Buffalo Pizza Company moved out after 2 months because the owner ramped up the lease rate etc....And I am referring to Hertel more than any other- Hertels seems to get business owners who are taking more chances with creative ideas...That might be because of cheaper rates, larger floor plans and or less B.S. they have to deal with....