Panel to Discuss Local Retail Development Opportunities Tomorrow

Expansion of Retail depends upon an expanding local economy. Our economies: USA, NY State, Erie County, and Buffalo, continue to shrink; please enlighten us about this phantom economy which allows new retail stores around town.

Are we talking about shifting money from one hand to another, instead of "development" ?

Buffalo's core, ie commercial center, needs to be strengthened in order for the entire region to strengthen. Otherwise, it's like a donut with a hollowed out center.

I think the approach has to be looked at in a lighter-faster-cheaper way. There is already more activity downtown (look at Canal Side, the 500 block of Main St, etc.), but there needs to be an organized, innovative solution to luring retailers downtown, such as: pop-up shops, food trucks, events to bring people there, etc. More events-->more the vendors-->more customers.

Speaking of which, why are there no independent retailers on this panel? What about some representation of local, grassroots organizations already "doing it"?

I'll echo what others have said in a previous forum--Shibley is over exposed. We need fresh blood, fresh ideas.

Lighter quicker cheaper for what? The Erie Basic Marina and military park were already there..your lighter quicker cheaper mantra owes its success to "Thursday at the Harbor"..ya know formerly Thursday at the Square. (I.e like the marina..we already had it) Soon we'll have an addition to Canalside with the ice skating on the canal..much to the chagrin of the icerink at Fountain Plaza. Soon to be followed by a waterfront public market..close cousin to the Broadway Market.

Unfortunately, I see exactly the opposite of what we should be doing at Canalside. No new ideas..just hollowing out other parts of town moving what we already have. Thats why its so cheap..we already have it.

Canalside is nothing but a park. A high quality public space (its my favorite place to go for a walk w/my wife)..but I would hardly say developers are interested in the area. Unless your talking about the sweetheart deal for Benderson and the Donovan and Pegula's hard thought strategic purchase of a parcel directly across the street from his NHL team.

"pop up shops" and foodtrucks are great but won't do a thing..theres got to be some sort of "Downtown" initiative that lays the foundation for its rebirth. All of the projects of late are fantastic and welcome to a chaging CBD. (albeit slowly) But they are not cohesive..and thats the problem.

Once the Benderson project, the Pegula project and the childrens museum are are complete there we be a critical mass. At that point private investing should follow.

I'm not sure about Pegulas building but I know Benderson is getting some sort of government assistance (tax credits I believe) and the shell of the childrens museum is being built with public funds. But this is public money well spent. It will, once complete, draw more investment to the area.

The lighter cheaper faster in Canalside is really just a way of creating momentum which will attract the attention of more substantial investment, which is exactly what is happening. Ohio St Parkway is just latest in several plans moving forward and even more still in the planning process.

I like the enthusiasm displayed by these planners, but I wonder what retail will look like in the future. My prediction is retail stores that sell items that need to be bought RIGHT NOW will stay in business, all other things will be sold online or by showroom-style stores.

A list of brick and mortar survivors could be:
-drug stores (feel sick, need to feel better right now)
-hardware stores (working on a project and I want to finish right now)
-auto parts stores (you get the idea)
-maybe some high end clothing stores
-grocery stores

There are others that I am missing, but basically unless the store offers an experience or immediate gratification for certain things, then it won't exist. I could be wrong.