This is a great solution. I almost never go to Spot on Elmwood because it's hard to find a seat - this would solve it. Good news for Elmwood! I'm still so sad that New World Record is no longer there. Whenever I would get my haircut, or go to Globe Market, I would stumble into NWR, and ultimately walk out with a new CD or two. Oh yeah, Brodo...yummy!
Glad to see SPoT is expanding. I've spent hundreds (if not thousands....yeeeeshhhh) of dollars in there and never once thought of it as dirty. I HAVE, however, thought of it as being slow. It takes Starbucks half the amount of time to get your drink.....so I'd lately find myself going there instead. Problem with Elmwood Starbucks lately is, that, there too has been a shortage of available seats. They've even thrown one of the outdoor tables and chairs up inside the store near the entrance and exit doors facing north. I like both for different reasons.....SPoT b/c if its local origin and uniqueness, Starbucks b/c of its consistency. Am I incorrect in saying there is room in the market for a second SPoT or Starbucks on Elmwood along the W Utica block? I can see one of them thriving there, too, perhaps in once of those vacancies near the new Bank of America.
Cool. I'm hoping the expando-spot adds more of the comfy type seating (ala the Chip location). A little stage area for some live, occasional tunes would be nice as well. I enjoy Spot, and probably stop in about 4 times per week. I do wish they would open their awnings when it rains/snows so one could enjoy a smoke with the hot coffee. They could really benefit from a second espresso machine as well. It's always a bottleneck, and especially so when the packs of Nardin/Canisius teensters come in and all order espresso ice cream concoctions.
Maybe with the extra space, the Brodo portions will get a little bigger.:))
Let me put it this way, that's the way business goes. 1) The business stayed in the City, which was good, right?? 2) After reading the article the store front on Elmwood had a flooding basement, was too small, and rent was too high. 3) The business stayed in the City - did you not have access to a car to locate yourself to No. Bflo? 4) There is heightened potential in No. Bflo with the addition of new stores and resturants.
Brodo needs a better interior design? What? It is gourgeous inside and Elaine has spectacular taste not only decorating her restaurant but also in art. The colors are beautiful in there! Did you miss the really beautiful lighting done by Lightmakers? She is always changing the artwork on the walls. I think that Brodo is beautiful inside and I have had some great nights with a bowl of soup and few glasses of wine. ("Dominic's brodo" with some crusty bread and glass of red wine is perfect for a cold night.)
Spot is dirty.
The recording industry has been plagued for years by the technology of downloading. ipods have been a major factor in this issue. The big box stores make NO money on selling CD's. They use them as "lost leaders" to get people in the door. The mark up on CD's is the lowest in retail. It is not just a few recording artists that hurt the brick and mortor record/CD stores - it is an industry wide issue that has been growing for years.
The technological capabilities of the internet over just a few short years have forever changed all of retail buying across the board. Even huge stores like Macy's, Sears, JC Penney, Pottery Barn and others have felt the impact of internet sales. For every year that internet sales increase, the brick and mortor retail sales have fallen by the same amount.
Still it is sad that New World is closing. Thanks for the heads up Joshua.
Hopefully the larger SPoT will add internet like the DT SPoT has. I asked at the Elmwood store once and they said that they were too small for internet. I didn't understand that answer, but for what it is worth, not having it didn't seem to keep business away...
Eric, what do you want, Mahogany-paneled walls and butlers in tuxedos? Isn't there enough of that on your own street?
Don't laugh, al-alo, the globe industry is a huge part of the global economy.
Clean air laws.
Now that's funny.
The cars that drive by spot are worse for your health than a cigarette.
On the topic of spot.....I've never known it to be dirty in there.....it's not the ritz but it's not Grant street either.
Blaming New World's closing on moving off Elmwood is like saying Hutch's is the cause of global warming. They made an attempt to shake things up (get some publicity, maybe new customers) with their last move. Give them credit for all the years in business, and at least trying something to stave off what now should have appeared inevitable. The distribution of all media is changing (withness the Hollywood writer's strike, and the key issues) and those that get caught in the transition are only at fault of being in the wrong business, at the wrong time. Good luck to them.
lost leader will be Hillary or Obama... Were in HUGE trouble if one of those two clowns get into office. Oy vay
Hey Hoss, I think that it is actually illegal to smoke inside an awning that is connected to a building like that, but not positive. I think that is is part of the clean air laws. That being said, Soho does this all winter long and it is even worse as their awning has sides and they prop open the doors. I also guess that smoking laws don't stop anyone in most of the old Allentown bars like the Old Pink etc...
I'd rather see a new business to increase variety than an expanded Spot or Brodo, neither of which seem especially nice places. Spot may be consistently busy but it's also consistently dirty and slow. Both places need an injection of better service and better interior design.
Maybe they should not of moved off Elmwood! Can't see how a few recording artists selling over the net can effect a store that much, sounds lame to me. To bad though, hate to see a business close after so many years!
The term is 'loss leader', not 'lost leader'. Lost leader is the our President.
who pays that much for the coffe! I canno beleive it. I go to macdonalds they give me a senior dicount. aso im glad they closing down.
buffalowing98,
globe market is a fantastic one stop location for all of your globe needs. upside down Australian, fancy tan water ones, pretentious jeweled ones, and nerdling mars and the moons.
actually no, not really
I don't see how people can really fault Spot for the condition of the tables, etc. As soon as someone stands up another jumps into their seat. When is the staff even able to wipe things down if tables are never empty for more than a few seconds and the line is consistently six people deep?
Don't start slumming here, EricOak, of course you'll take a butler, otherwise, how would you ever get dressed for dinner? I hear the guests downstairs, we'll talk later...
The problem with Buffalo is there is no centralized area to "hang out" during the day. Spot and the surronding block are about it, which really isn't much.
There needs to be some kind of attraction on Elmowood or Downtown during the day that will bring people downtown.......other than a bar!
A new mall perhaps? Something, anything.
Your welcome leadi and others, I posted this as soon as I saw it in the Bflo news. I figured it would be an important topic to talk about, since I thought it would get the same amount of business regardless of where it was located in the City. (I'm sorry if I seems a bit rash on my first comment.)
Wow, that's great news since at least 25% of the time I can't even sit down in Spot.
As for Spot being "dirty" that's news to me but I guess compared to Ruby Tuesdays, it might seem that way.
sweet! getting rid of an empty storefront = nothing but good news. I'm not surprised to see a comment downgrading the news already though...some things (will) never change.
Wizard, I'll pass on the butlers but I'll take the mahogany panels--good idea!
I would rather see two stable businesses take the space over than a new one that closed in a few months. plus this would add more outdoor seating with any luck!
who pays that much for the coffe! I canno beleive it. I go to macdonalds they give me a senior dicount. aso im glad they closing down.
Appartently, New World Record was not that important to ya'll on Elmwood - It's closing. New World Record to close after 17-year run
11111inBlo,
Internet users stay in their seats for extended periods of time, generally staying longer than a non-wifi user would. That creates a difficult situation for a shop that is already short on seating.
buffalowing98,
If your question is serious, send me a PM and I'd be happy to fill you in. I'm guessing it's not....
Brodo has tables and chairs made for tiny Ikea type people. WTF if you over 6' and 175lbs youre stuck in the house in miniatures...decent food though. Spot is good but dirty and slow as hell...
good to see Spot expanding but it is a little dirty. mostly due to customers not clearing their own mess when they leave but the staff should still be more on top of taking care of it....maybe this will get fixed because the last time I was there a girl came around to each table asking if anyone needed anything else? .....almost like being waited on...kind of strange but nice......my main issue with this place though that I could never understand is the music they play. It's horrible....so bad it makes you want to take your coffee to go or just sit outside.....Mike & the Mechanics, Richard Marx, Mr. Mister, Starship etc were very wrong the first time around but to have to suffer through it again should not be allowed...you can't tell me that the kids working there like this crap? Even 97 Rock wouldn't stoop this low
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