Buffalo Rising Online

Dec 7th 2008, 3:42pm By queenseyes

Main Street couldn't have landed a better business than Just Vino. Ever since the recent opening the bar has been seeing its fare share of traffic, mostly due to the sense of style the owners have brought to the Granite Works building. Last Sunday we passed by the corner of Main and Virginia and noticed that owners Ken and Jeff were busy putting up the season's decorations. Overnight, the bar was transformed into one of the most tasteful holiday hot spots in the city (see last post).

Remember when there were a lot of people who questioned this upscale wine bar choosing to move into the neighborhood? Fortunately, a few other businesses had already trail blazed their way onto the street (Chow Chocolate and Campieri's Gourmet Pizza). Now there is a small concentration of stopping points, especially if you add Roxy's and OHM into the mix. And we can't forget about Ulrich's - the establishment is within eyesight on Virginia.

All of these businesses have brought their own unique elements to Main Street. Many of them are busy working together to make sure that the district continues to grow. With the addition of Just Vino, there is a whole new level of style brought to Granite Works - if you have not been to this wine bar, then you don't know what you've been missing. It's a Class A operation in the heart of the thriving Medical Campus. The only problem with Just Vino is that once you're there, it can be hard to leave. It's so comfortable and cozy inside... watching the snow falling through the larger-than-life front windows is pretty dramatic (if the southeast corner lot would upgrade the ugly fence, the view would be even better). If you look closely, you can actually see the ultra-modern Hauptman-Woodward building in the distance.

Now the question is, "What's next for the Granite Works building?" Just Vino is the first business to move into the series of commercial spaces. I was speaking with Jeff last night and he is crossing his fingers that the building (and Just Vino) will attract a second business soon. He asked me what sort of business I imagined would be a good fit, and of course a coffee shop came into mind. I guess that's because cafes offer a place for people to congregate - like a destination to meet at before heading off to shop, eat, work, etc. That's why every successful commercial district has a cafe mainstay in its midst. According to Granite Works property developer Ben Obletz, there is to be no cooking allowed in the commercial spaces, which precludes many types of eateries from setting up shop. Maybe a dance studio would work that incorporated yoga, pilates, spinning classes, etc.? What's next for Granite Works? It will be interesting to see what will move in next...

Just Vino is located at 846 Main Street - Store #100. (716) 725-0166

For information on additional Granite Works commercial spaces, get connected with Kathy Behan @ 716-839-1400.