Nick Kotrides, owner of Toro Restaurant and Faherty's Bar on Elmwood, looked on today as the basement of the new Empire Grill on Hertel was being dug out. The neighborhood is very excited to see progress on the new build, which is located across the street from North End Trattoria on Hertel Avenue. Winsome White, proprietor of Bella (another new addition to Hertel Avenue), can't wait for the project to be completed. Her new dress shop sits just opposite the site. Winsome keeps late hours hoping to attract the busy dinner crowd, and from all accounts the Empire Grill should attract new customers from around all of Western New York. Toro, Elmwood's tapas bar and restaurant, has seen unusually large crowds this summer, and Nick hopes that his new venture on Hertel will be just as successful.