Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 27th 2007, 12:00am By queenseyes

Two weeks from now Buffalo is going to see the former Lotis restaurant reopen as One Sunset. When I first went to cover this story I was introduced to the owner of the establishment Leonard Stokes - a mild mannered guy, with a flip side that is all playmaker. That's because after playing ball in Greece, this Buffalonian went on to play in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets and the Washington Wizards as a point guard and shooting guard. Yes, he grew up in Buffalo and though he left to pursue a basketball career, he never forgot about his friends and family. Now the 26-year old is back home helping to take care of his mother who was recently diagnosed with cancer. It was the love for his family and the concern for his mother that made Leonard step back and examine his life. "I love it here. My friends and family are all here and even though I'm still playing ball (currently a free agent in the NBA and NBA Development League), I want to make this place my home. This is where I'm going to retire."

Retiring in Buffalo (even though that may be ways down the road) is good news for this city. In the last few months Leonard has started making post-basketball career decisions that he can fall back on when his NBA career is over. He's recently started an elevator installation company after discovering that the general contracting business was oversaturated. And he also signed a lease to reopen the former Lotis Restaurant at 1389 Delaware Avenue. "My family loves good food," he told me. "I wanted to open up a restaurant in Buffalo where friends like Terrell Owens can feel comfortable - a place where my friends and family can relax and enjoy... a place where people can come and enjoy great food in a quality atmosphere. Everyone is welcome here. It's nice to know that I've got help too. Even while I'm away I know that I've got a reliable group of people to help run the business. I want to keep playing basketball, but I like it here and want to make it my home."

At this point Leonard is in the midst of fixing up the restaurant. He's putting down wood floors, making the fireplace operational, installing a gigantic fish aquarium into the wall, and building an elevated back patio so that he can have movie and dinner nights when the weather gets nice again. Artwork will be supplied by the owners of Gallery 51 on Elmwood. The kitchen will be outfitted with all new restaurant equipment, and the seating will consist of tables downstairs and booths upstairs. The second floor will be dedicated to special parties, business functions, and any other sort of reserved functions. There will be a bar menu ranging from spaghetti to sea scallops, with a full dinner menu featuring a filet, bourbon barbecue back ribs and lamb shank. For the first thirty days One Sunset will be open for dinner, and then lunch will kick in after that time period is over. Chef Sam Reda has been helping Leonard with the menu, though another head chef will take over from there (more on that in Christa's upcoming YUM post).

It's almost the perfect time to start looking for the rising sun/martini olive that is featured on the logo... very clever. I asked Leonard how the idea for the name and the logo came about and he told me that he and his friends were on the back patio one night as the sun was setting on the restaurant. There is a back parking lot and valet service will be available. Leonard would like to thank Maureen Pace, Andrea Lizak, Councilmembers Brian Davis and Michael LoCurto, Mayor Brown, the BERC, his friends, his family and especially his mother for making this dream come true.