what they really need is a new perhaps thin building to fill in the street wall. Perhaps enough space for 2 / 3 storefronts. Since the Hampton is just about filled, and Chippewa filled there is nowhere for the strip to grow to. Without growth perceptions of stagnation arise. No one wants that... Shame we don't have more buildings for new restaurants / bars to move into.
That stretch of Chippewa from Delaware to S. Elmwood especially along that side of the block between Witz end and the gas station needs something and additional street lighting. Nice to see something else in this stretch but that area in between this building and the gas station gets sketchy after hours sometimes.
New to the Buffalo Rising site, great info and great place to share ideas. Getting to my late thirties, all I can share on this topic is I remember moving to Buffalo back in the late 80's and starting to work downtown in 91. At that time, Chippewa was beginning to see the end of its time as the red light district. I remember taking the #20 Elmwood bus to work, passing by the strip clubs and other assorted beaten down buildings and shaky clientele that walked the streets around there, tried to push drugs, and basically made your average person a nervous wreck to be downtown at all; City Centre Condo's weren't there, nor were Key Towers or Comfort Suites; the Root Building was all but deserted. Unfortunately, we did lose the Fisherman's Warf building, but the point is, in seventeen years from my first bus ride downtown to work, The Elmwood Village has cleaned up and become a destination and demand real estate area, and so has Chippewa - it's more than very different, and I commend any entrepreneur that tries to make a go of it. Timing for success coupled with market research, marketing, and sticking to it sometimes can be difficult, however. I personally would love to see some unique Elmwood and Hertel type boutiques sprinkled in throughout the area, as one person referenced retail - would round out an afternoon of shopping, lunch, and drinks for the non-college crowd on any day. Anyway, just my thoughts to refresh everyone what it once was, where it's come, and promote concepts of sustainability and growth!
New to the Buffalo Rising site, great info and great place to share ideas. Getting to my late thirties, all I can share on this topic is I remember moving to Buffalo back in the late 80's and starting to work downtown in 91. At that time, Chippewa was beginning to see the end of its time as the red light district. I remember taking the #20 Elmwood bus to work, passing by the strip clubs and other assorted beaten down buildings and shaky clientele that walked the streets around there, tried to push drugs, and basically made your average person a nervous wreck to be downtown at all; City Centre Condo's weren't there, nor were Key Towers or Comfort Suites; the Root Building was all but deserted. Unfortunately, we did lose the Fisherman's Warf building, but the point is, in seventeen years from my first bus ride downtown to work, The Elmwood Village has cleaned up and become a destination and demand real estate area, and so has Chippewa - it's more than very different, and I commend any entrepreneur that tries to make a go of it. Timing for success coupled with market research, marketing, and sticking to it sometimes can be difficult, however. I personally would love to see some unique Elmwood and Hertel type boutiques sprinkled in throughout the area, as one person referenced retail - would round out an afternoon of shopping, lunch, and drinks for the non-college crowd on any day. Anyway, just my thoughts to refresh everyone what it once was, where it's come, and promote concepts of sustainability and growth!
The girl in the picture is a Babe! [me thinks someone should marry her one day....]
I went once for a comedian.. wasn't the best but you never know. What they need is to bring the Comedy Club downtown to draw on their customer base, and connections. Lets be honest that crappy parking lot it is in now is an embarrassment.. Especially considering it is the ONLY comedy club around.
Simple changes could make Chippewa a very nice destination. First is to narrow and slow the street. Chippewa should be some sort of paver's / cobbles. Slow the cars down. Narrow it also. Is there really a need for parking on both sides of the street. Keep on side for deliveries etc but the parked cars there only cause problems. And who in their right mind would park there on the weekend. You are just asking for problems then.
This would allow for the sidewalks to be widened a bit on either side. There isn't much room on them to begin with and on the weekends they are overly congested. If people want to 'cruse' Chippewa they can but they shouldn't be trying to go 50 between Delaware and Franklin like they do now. Things need to slow down just a bit.
Also.. Remove the poor trees. We have streets that deserve and can accommodate trees, and we have some that can't. The trees have no room to grow, as all the tree planting areas are compacted from walking over or just covered in Asphalt at this point.Chippewa is too heavily traveled and narrow for trees to thrive. Give the room to the people and focus trees on our grand avenues, like Delaware, Main, Niagara that really need them more.
@Atwaterlouse...you go girl! Some people seem to forget this is nothing more than a charming little blog site that one can vent, joke, debate or comment. Nothing more, Nothing less...
I don't agree that it was a terrible idea at all. People have been saying for years that Chippewa needs to outgrow it's College Bar mentality and branch out into other attractions. I think Witz End was just too soon tho. Eventually as downtown evolves, I bet something like that could be successful.
Tough - it was a joke, lighten up! Everything on this blog can't be serious debate of marina sand circles and neighborhood destroying video stores. Btw, I didn't say bouncers had no good reasons to be raging - of course they do. Yes, Liars makes that block a 'little' vomity - just like I said - a 'little' bit! LaLuna and Bacchus needn't be offended.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Scott! As one of the "older demographic" who walks to her even older demographic spouse to have dinner at Salasarita, Papaya, Bada Bing, etc. several times a week, I see the early evening crowds growing (and spending). This may come as a shock to the nay-sayers here - but a couple of weekends ago my daughter and her Houston-raised fiance were in town for her shower. They were joined by another young professional couple from North Jersey (working in Manhattan) who stayed at the Hampton. The four of them went out on a Saturday night to several Chippewa haunts (yes, even the Bucking Buffalo) and had a ball On Friday night we celebrated the son-in-law's b-day at the Chop House with drinks at The Chocolate Bar afterwards. SUnday morning we all did brunch at Hamlin House - the conversation at brunch centered on how great Buffalo was and how they never expected to have the time they enjoyed. The guests had all kinds of questions about the architecture and the neighborhoods... and they look forward to coming back. To restate the above, these were out-of-towners from major metropolitan areas who saw Buffalo largely through our neighborhood - AND LOVED IT. Every storefront that fills with a new concept is great for the rest. It will be nice when there are more daytime venues and eventually some shops, but it's not a question of if but when. I work on the 200 Delaware project during the day and live the neighborhood at night and weekends. It's not rose-colored glasses that cause me to say - we have a good thing growing.
Each block could have different color street banners and themes like Elmwood Village districts.
trying to make it sound chic and sophisticated, as if "Bada Bing" and the "patio phenomenon" is putting "Chippewa West" on the cutting edge!
Elmwood-Delware: 'Chippewa West' (trendy upscale blue-green)
Delaware-Franklin: 'Raging Bouncer Zone' (blood stain red)
Franklin-Pearl: 'Little Vomity' (earth tone)
Sam, state funding for banners please.
I apologize atwater. I get aggrivated with people on this site who constantly make uninformed comments about Chippewa and other areas. I'm defensive of it b/c most people on this site don't seem to realize what an assest it is to Buffalo and with a little help and encouragement what an asset and destination it truly could be. Chippewa seems to be one of the only places where no one on this site is ever happy when a new place opens up. We're on the edge of our seat with every tid-bit about the statler and where dogs will be allowed next and where to put sand but a new business pops up and we pooh-pooh it b/c of where it is. And I'm not just talking about the bars. I'm talking about the bars, restaurants, Hotels, convention center and theaters in that 5-6 block area that make it an entertainment district. I've been out and about in various parts of the country and Chippewa is something very unique that most other places don't have. And yet everyone that ever comments on it seems to disdane it. Instead of being happy that a new business will be down there to add to the street people immediately dismiss it. I for one will check it out when its open. And then I'll go to Bada-Bing and sit out on the patio, and then across the street to Papaya for some thai. Then to Chocolate Bar for dessert and a drink. and then I'll go up the street and catch a show or concert maybe, and then I'll head back down Chippewa for another drink at Jack Devines or Croc.
Atwater has a good point...seeing how Chippewah is our main entertainment attraction, there are things the city should/could do to make it look less ghetto.
better landscaping/more trees, more lights, replace street with cobblestone, clean the street, new lamp posts, curbs, islands in the street, neon lights on top of building like Elmwood Ave, more banners/billboards, more security
Come on Byron, this is common sense stuff.
Don't knock all the vomit along Chipewa, Atwater, it saves people the bother of having to read the menus posted at area eateries.
i believe chippewa is west chippewa beginning at main street...the suggestion put forth by this article is that the block from delaware to elmwood be labled "chippewa west"...i agree with boz...all these silly little labels for areas around buffalo are total reaches...
"Chippewa West?" Please. I'm all for improvements in the entertainment district, but please don't insult our intelligence by making this sound like a street that is even big enough to be multi-directional!
I hope Chippewa develops and grows up some, but I am so sick of these made up "districts" trying to make downtown Buffalo sound like something it just isn't. Take some pride in what it's got.
Well.. there is East Chippewa and West Chippewa. I don't think he was making up anything up by calling it Chippewa West.
the main story here is that a building is no longer sitting empty...congrats to all those involved.
No, he's trying to make it sound chic and sophisticated, as if "Bada Bing" and the "patio phenomenon" is putting "Chippewa West" on the cutting edge! Sometimes overselling does more harm than good.
New Rule: Your not allowed to comment on Chippewa unless you actually go down there to see what its like. I don't know what it is with you people but your misconceptions about what Chippewa is and is not are rediculous. Boz, ever been to Bada-Bing? Out-of-towners staying at the Hampton seem to love that place. The idea may be kinda corny but it works and they're doing well. Especially with visitors who pump outside cash into our economy. Atwater: Franklin to Pearl a little vomity? I'll spot you Liars and even La Luna, but Bacchus, Third Room and Brinks are vomity huh? Delaware to Franklin Raging Bouncer Zone? How bout raging asshole zone? Put the Buffalo News down and go see what goes on down there. If your referring to the incident at Bayou, That kid jumped a bouncer trying to break up a fight. People that start those fights are what kills downtown and are why people like you feel your too classy to go down there. And if the police made more arrests instead of just taking pictures with drunk girls maybe those people would be less inclined to start fights and bouncers wouldn't have to use physical force on them. Gaustad: Your right on, the city and operators on that street need to invest in it to make it more of a destination. There is a Chippewa organization that is currently working on this and I have heard that they have even secured some funding through Brian Davis and are looking into making improvements. Witz-End was a great idea. The problem was that they never booked any acts or advertised. Can anyone remember seeing any even semi-popular comedian there? Or any comedian at all for that matter?
from prima pizza to bada bing- the entire chippewa entertainment district is WEST CHIPPEWA far from trying to be multi directional
Everything that opens it seems is either a martini bar or wine bar, in this case both. Getting ready to open but no idea about a menu yet, um....good luck I guess.
sounds to me like a bunch of people here just dont like Chippewa..........boo hoo
Correction - I walk with not to my spouse. Co-habitation has worked very well for us over the years...
Great idea! Chippewa needs more places like "The Snooty Fox Lounge" on Delaware.
Good luck with Venue. I'll check it out when it opens.
A few retail stores would be a perfect fit in any empty space along Chippewa St. to bring in a larger Day Crowd.
i go on chippewa at least once a week and i definitely think the street should be closed on the weekend, at least saturday night, let people go down delware pearl and franklin of course but close down chippewa on saturdays, there is too much traffic and the motor cycles piss me off., funny how that side of chippewa is growing while the other side is declinding at least a bit (big shotz/area 42)
Sounds like a great place, good luck to all, Buffalo needs more bars like this.
Will there be some lounge style seating (couches) for bottle service? Buffalo is lacking in this category....
I dunno if I'd call it a decline. Those two bars seemed to add to the problem more than anything. Hopefully some new people will get in there and turn them into some better bars/restaurants with better customers.
Up until a few years ago it WAS one-way. The sidewalks are narrow, but that hasn't stopped bars from putting in boozer cages. And, this street has seen two or three streetscape improvement plans in the last 20 years but little has been done besides new street lights and some pavers.
One of the big problems is the street is dirty- wasn't Buffalo Place supposed to take over maintenance? Or did the owners decide that was a "luxury" they didn't want to tax themselves for?
I always thought that closing the street off to traffic would be a good idea. Something like a Bourbon St. in NOLA, maybe opening it up for car shows or bike shows on the occasional night. There are enough people who weave in and out of traffic trying to walk from bar to bar on a Friday night, I'm surprised noone's been run over yet. I would keep the main roads open (Elmwood, Delaware, Franklin, Pearl) but close of Chippewa in between the roads and maybe create a Buffalo Place atmosphere with benches and greenspace on Chippewa itself and reopen traffic to the street at Washington.
Operators have just hired two guys in red jump suits to clean the street thursday through sunday and I believe they are in talks with Buffalo Place. Streetscape plans have been dusted off as well from what I hear. Can't really make chippewa one way b/c of rush hour traffic. And cars don't really whip trough there. Certainly not at 50mph. Nixing street parking from Elmwood to pearl is a good idea tho.
That cowgirl standing in the picture has me believing that Flappy's lives on!
There does not need to be two lane traffic on Chippewah. Widen the street and make it one way. this way bars have more room for patio and out door seeting.
Brian Davis and common council are a joke. Get off your asses and do something. This street is an embarassment to anyone visiting from out of town.
I always thought that closing the street off to traffic would be a good idea. Something like a Bourbon St. in NOLA, maybe opening it up for car shows or bike shows on the occasional night. There are enough people who weave in and out of traffic trying to walk from bar to bar on a Friday night, I'm surprised noone's been run over yet. I would keep the main roads open (Elmwood, Delaware, Franklin, Pearl) but close of Chippewa in between the roads and maybe create a Buffalo Place atmosphere with benches and greenspace on Chippewa itself and reopen traffic to the street at Washington.
By the way, Witz End was a terrible idea, feel bad for the person and the bank taht lost money on this place. Witz End and Flappy's never stood a chance.....
closing the street or changing back to one way is going backwards. A little chaos and congestion is life in the city. The narrow confines of the East Village, Grenwich or Soho do not limit cars. There are many more commercial storefronts on Chippewa than in the past and they depend on easy access for visibilty. One way streets are a nightmare and discourage developement.
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