By Torontonian Lorne Opler:
Can we say the stars may finally be lining up for Main Street? I'm hoping so. Because a trio of good news stories emerging in the last couple of weeks gives me hope that things are looking up for Buffalo's downtown.
From all indications, the Governor is still planning to sign a bill that substantially increases the tax breaks offered to developers who invest in rehabbing neglected but significantly historical commercial buildings. Indeed, Rocco Termini has even stated that as soon as the bill becomes law, he's ready and raring to move construction crews into the AM&A's building and begin an ambitious renovation of the sprawling complex.
Next we learned that as early as this fall, work will begin on the long awaited plan to bring vehicular traffic back to the 600 block of Main Street. And on the heels of this announcement we read this week that the wheels are already turning to convert the shuttered Ya Ya Brewhouse into a new high end restaurant with a 1,000 bottle wine cellar and a unique dry aging facility for meats. Indeed, the imminent return of cars to Main Street must have been one of the deciding factors for Jay Haynes, the owner and visionary behind Perfetto restaurant, to move forward with his plans. Bravo for Mr. Haynes. And all this happening only two months after the resplendently restored Hotel Lafayette opened its doors to business... and to continuing rave reviews.
Imagine living in the Lafayette or in one of the AM&A's Warehouse lofts, and being able to walk just a few blocks north for dinner in what I hope will soon become one of downtown Buffalo's most popular eateries. And then cross the street for a theatre performance at Shea's, and still be home at a decent hour. That's the vision I have for a future downtown Buffalo, and the vision I know many of my fellow Buffalo Rising readers and contributors share with me.
But there is one piece of this picture that's still missing. No doubt, living only blocks away from live theatre and great food is one of many incentives to move downtown. But what about the day to day amenities needed to sustain urban life? With so much development happening in Buffalo's core, I believe it is only a matter of time before we see a full service grocery store serving all the new residents who call downtown their home.
Yes, I understand that there needs to be a critical mass of potential customers needed for any supermarket to contemplate setting up business. So my questions are... what is that critical mass? And what will convince a market that the time is right to set up shop? Could the AM&A's project be that tipping point? Once completed, it will add new retail, hotel, office and apartment life to Main Street. And with 5,000 new employees expected to be added in the next few years to the emerging Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, could this too not bolster the need for a full scale downtown market?
The trend is inevitable. More and more people are willing to work and live in the city's hub. It's equally inevitable that as this trend continues, a market will need to be built to meet the demand.
As I see it, the question no longer is if... but when.
Photo: Hotel Lafayette
The market situation in Buffalo is slight complicated by the fact that residential development has been scattered around downtown in most cities that are establishing downtown housing, it is usually clustered in 1 or 2 areas. This makes it easier to establish services. It isn't that Buffalo is that spread out, but imagine walking with grocery bags from The Sidway to South Elmwood on a Saturday night. This means the people will still probably drive at times and parking is necessary.
I would say a central location (AM&As maybe) with a limited range of staples as well as a full service deli would be the best option. Forget about getting a Whole Foods or Trader Joes and instead focus on getting Tops to open a limited service market with a deli to support the downtown workforce that wants options for lunch.
In St. Louis, Schnucks, the local grocers opened Culinaria downtown. http://www.culinariaschnucks.com/about_us.asp
They did it not only to meet a need but also to be good corporate citizens. It is a great concept store with a mix of prepared food and grocery staples. At 21,000 sf, it is large but not huge. It has a limited selection of everything a resident would need.
So let's hit up Tops and get them ahead of the curve. Their opening a boutique market would solve the chicken and egg problem with a grocery store downtown.
I think a dash's market would be a great fit. Their business model already has smaller stores which would be a better fit for downtown. Parking will be a must though as only a small ammount of customers would be able to walk there, regardless of where it is put.
Parking will be a must....
And, that's why a market will not be appearing anytime soon. There is not enough density downtown for a market to be successful. How many BRO readers visit Washington Market on a daily/weekly basis? I was there on a weekday before noon in December and I was the only customer for an hour.
I agree with Texpat, though, that Tops would be interesting but that's only if they are willing to experiment with a new concept and use downtown as its laboratory. Wal-Mart is doing the same in a few cities.
The Washington Market's an overpriced joke. I live right behind it and refuse to step foot in the place. Its "grocery" selection is dreadful, at best, and the hours are pathetic. It's much more focused on the lunch crowd and catering, which is fine, but it would certainly be nice if they paid mind to the fact that hundreds of people live above, next to and behind it -- all of whom have grocery needs.
>It has a limited selection of everything a resident would need.
I see you are not Hispanic. Tops is brilliant at adapting to local markets. They have been in that neighborhood (walking distance from my house) a long time. There's also Price Rite, also walking distance, and if I need something hippie I it's a short ride to the Coop. I also have an organic food share from a local farm which we pick up every week at the Massachusetts Avenue Project on Grant St. Life couldn't be better in deep downtown Buffalo!
I agree with the AM&As idea. Ideally, you could mix lofts and a tops/wegmans under one roof. Placing them in the Main Place Mall would also be convienient because you can fit more space into a skyscraper.
Being agressive Downtown would be an understatement. You need reasons to say, "Why aren't you living here?" More than the amenity of a grocery store. I mean the combo residential and hotel is truly a smart move because of shared amenities. I foresee that as the future of Downtown luxury living.
There needs to be a North/South trail of luxury buildings like that every block to 2 blocks so that there is continuity. I see that taking shape, but there aren't enough apartments/condos.
I mean there needs to be 3 to 4 times as much because the Downtown population is only 1700 (within the traditional Ellicott Rectangle)!