Real Estate June 2, 2012 12:50 AM

Another Sign of Life on 600 Block

Another Sign of Life on 600 Block
WCPerspective
WCPerspective 16

The Pierce Building at 653 Main Street is getting another first floor tenant.  Althea's 2nd Time Around Boutique is opening in one of the renovated building's storefronts.  The retailer will occupy approximately 1,000 sq.ft. of space.  Althea's is the second new tenant signed for the building in recent months.  Luminus Medica LLC opened in 1,350 sq.ft. of first floor space in March.

piercemain.JPGThe attractive two-story terra cotta building across from Shea's was renovated as a mix of commercial and residential space in 2006.  Four upper floor apartments ranging in size from 1,700 to 2,000 sq.ft. of living space, with two-bedrooms and one and one-half baths were quickly leased.  Developer and owner Plaza Group has been patiently waiting for ground floor commercial tenants since.   

piercefirstfloor.bmpThe Pierce Building was built in 1921 by Dr. V.M. Pierce.

Get Connected:  Plaza Group, 716.874.4880

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16 Comments Leave a comment
Lego1981
June 2, 2012 9:24 AM
Lego1981

Alittle more info on what she'll be selling would be nice. I know it will be great since I've had the pleasure of speaking with her in the recent past. This is very exciting news!!!

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Lego1981
June 2, 2012 9:31 AM
Lego1981

And THIS is what will make the Theatre District more 'ALIVE'!!! First floor retailers, restaurants, and of course the theaters. NOT first floor offices with the blinds down. I noticed Theater Place (the building next to Shea's kicked out Muareen's and re-located Sue's Deli and Marcella's for new office bunkers that will add ZERO Street activity to a large portion of the 600 Block of Main St. Thanks to whome ever is in charge of that.

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YesSir
June 2, 2012 11:07 AM
YesSir

How cool would it be for Buffalo to be the first city to ban all cars and the suburbs. Local does matter.

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paulsobo
June 2, 2012 1:29 PM
paulsobo

I look at that building and immediately thing...add to more floors to that building and extend that terra cotta facade up to its neighbor.

How could a city like Buffalo have a Main Street with 1 and 2 story buildings? (I mean that rhetorically...I know its a challenge finding tenants for some buildings...just think buildings like this should be taller).

By the way whats happening with the 2 buildings with caved in roofs: RedJacket and Graystone.

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WeAreTheNormal
June 3, 2012 10:59 AM
WeAreTheNormal

With all due respect to Althea, I can hardly get excited about what appears to be a consignment shop on Main Street. I definitely would love to see more retail, but not this type of retail. While I disagree with this move, I wish her the best of luck and hope that she will change my mind (not that my opinion should matter in what she does).

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ladyinwhite
June 3, 2012 11:16 AM
ladyinwhite

I would have to agree with you. About as exciting as another weave shop in the area.

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LouisTully
June 3, 2012 12:45 PM
LouisTully

Look at that, we agree on something.

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Rand503
June 3, 2012 4:00 PM
Rand503

Ugh -- a consignment shop? That's great for Hertel Ave. or other places, but not when we want to up the pedestrian quotient in the neighborhood. How about a genuine market? If there are that many people living the area, and offices and theaters all around, surely there is a need for a place to buy food, flowers and some sundry articles? IT's not a big space, afterall, so a small market could be profitable. Probably more so than a consignment shop.

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JSmith
June 4, 2012 10:26 AM
JSmith

It's better than a vacant storefront, isn't it?

I think small grocery stores are very difficult to do profitably. We had a couple open up on Hertel and fail before a more typical corner store took over the space and has managed to stick (probably making their profit on smokes and booze, which the markets did not sell). Tops is close enough to this location that I can imagine a prospective grocer getting cold feet. On the other hand, the time will come when there are enough residents downtown who won't want to have to get in their cars to go grocery shopping (if they even bother to own a car).

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Stabmaster Arson
June 3, 2012 6:06 PM
Stabmaster Arson

Meh....what kind of "consignment"? Knickknacks, thingamibob's and widgets? Its hard to retail anything of that nature with ebay and other websites like that. I cant see it but best of luck.

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grad94
June 3, 2012 7:34 PM
grad94

i say give it a chance. lots of women love consignment shops. it isn't like we have the per-capita wealth to attract a prada or armani shop and a self-defeating landlord turned them down in favor of althea.

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Rand503
June 4, 2012 12:01 AM
Rand503

I sense there are many, many options for a retail establishment that lie somewhere between a consignment shop and a Gucci store.

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grad94
June 4, 2012 9:17 AM
grad94

agreed. i don't usually indulge in false dichotomies. but when it comes to main street retail space, there has been more supply than demand for decades. if higher-end retailers wanted to be there, there are plenty of storefronts for them to choose from. but for now they don't want to be there. eventually they will count enough noses living downtown to change their minds. until then, best of luck to althea.

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BuffaloQPublic
June 3, 2012 11:00 PM
BuffaloQPublic

There's a jewelry store (that has been there for many years), and I think an architect(s)office is in the building.

Included in the eclectic mix, in the area, is Tent City and the Third??? a business in Chris Jacob's building (in the former OPM bar space). They may not bring substantial life to the Theater District at night and on weekends but on the flip side, empty storefronts/buildings add zero people inticement 24/7.

GOOD LUCK to Althea's and the other new tenant!

Off-subject, but notably in need of addressing -- the expansive windows of the space next to Sheas, (which Lego1981 referenced) should present a better appearance in its renovation stages.

Unless it changed recently, they have torn and half-fallen brown paper on them. Definitely not a good impression for those coming to the Theater district.

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Rand503
June 4, 2012 12:02 AM
Rand503

I'll chip in for brand new brown paper. It's my small yet significant contribution to the beautification of the Theatre District.

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Rand503
June 4, 2012 12:03 AM
Rand503

I'll chip in for brand new brown paper. It's my small yet significant contribution to the beautification of the Theatre District.

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