Buffalo Rising Online

That sounds incredible....he's already got a regular customer..I'll be first in line!

Any idea when the Grand Opening is slated for?

He's about four or five months out? That's a guess, he was tough to pin down with that one.

Darcy's was the first faux Irish pub in town. Just what we need in the heart of what was the original home of the Buffalo Irish. And from a lace curtain Brinkworth no less. My grandfather must be spinning....

When Irish eyes are smiling! Count me in for pulling up a barstool. This is good news. Are we still going to see commercial development on the first floor of the Cobblestone Lofts? I hope so.

Yes, the Lofts will still have commercial on the ground floor; Morrisey's wanted to open faster than the attorney general process was going to allow, and the terminal building works really well for the flow of the pub and coffeehouse.

Come visit us at 26 Mississippi tomorrow during the loft tour to see and hear more about Morrisey's and the Lofts! Look for the blue balloons.....

Awsome development, I cant wait !

Finally somewhere to drink around the arena! Sounds like fun spot...figure we could drink at pub and roll into loft for night... Glad movement happening in Cobblestone

I see it as less of a neighborhood pub and more of an opportunity for another entertainment district -- between the arena, casino, Cobblestone bar and this one, we'll finally start to see some critical mass -- we'd need a couple more to make it a real destination on non-event nights at HSBC, but this is a step in that direction.

Luv this idea. Finally a new cafe hang out (like Spot, maby?) in a brand new neighborhood, Downtown. Can't wait till it opens.

Denni Brinkworth Jr is the only Brinkworth whos not a cool dude... too bad, they are all good people

Denni Brinkworth Jr is the only Brinkworth whos not a cool dude... too bad, they are all good people

irisheddy..who cares and why comment on your pesonnal views at least this person is doing something to enhance Buffalo...problem with this site is too many people post personal views and lose sight of main subject...from what I read most people seem to vent frustrations towards people. Focus on issue which is development of a business in Cobblestone

i agree..IrishEddy must know another Brinkworth because Dennis is very good to our group and seems to operate solid bars..Irisheddy must have been tossed out for being bar idiot! Back to subject...agree with Razyor..need more than one bar/restaurant in area...wouldn't nice Italian bistro be cool or maybe Hooters!

thanks queenseyes for the update...

and, there really is no place around showing enlish premier league games...

dennis should add that to the restaurant/pub...show a lot of soccer....live...saturday mornings, sunday mornings...tuesday and wednesday afternoon...

you've got a gold mine with all the british folks working at hsbc...

get fox soccer channel and setanta sports...believe me...

I heard that Darcy McGees closed down and that a Smokehouse went in there. This new place might be the place to be on St Patricks Day now. Sounds like a great place.

A new festival for the city? Great, this will only add to our reputation as a city of festivals. I expect great things from Cobblestone!

Would the rest of the bays be able to accomodate some bowling lanes?

I like the bowling alley idea, great way to bring groups of people downtown for weeknight leagues, a real authentic Buffalo tradition too. However, pretty substantial upfront costs and maintenance I would imagine.

Thanks, Queenseyes! The good news just keeps coming . . . Buffalo Old Home Week, Buffalo on CBS News Sunday Morning, sunny Buffalo on The Weather Channel, groundbreaking for the new Burchfield Penney Art Center, water in the Erie Canal Harbor, Darwin Martin House reconstruction nearing completion and, now, new development in the Cobblestone District . . . it just goes on and on.

Aren't we incredibly fortunate to be right here, right now?

Also, Sturdy One- Statler Tower renovations, new state of the art Court House, Main Street re-opening to Traffic, New Era Headquarters in Downtown with a retail shop/museum, redevelopment to the Courtyard Mall on Main St., Taylor Building and more.

And while everyone is sprinkling confetti and fairy dust in the air, my vision of the Cobblestone district is one mired in muck and failure, a Bass Pro that won't commit despite millions in subsidies, a world class casino that will instead end up looking like a bingo hall bisected by a road that nobody cares about, a canal harbor neighborhood with buildings resembling tool and die plants, dead and empty streets unless the arena is hosting an event. Savarino's loft project is an empty promise as well... enjoy the pretty blue balloons at their office building on Saturday folks, cause come 2010, the weathered plywood on the Benlin building will still be matching the weathered plywood on the doors of Memorial Auditorium.

Pessimistic, If you can't see it then you're a douche bag sprinkled with confetti and fairy dust. Get the f out of the way cuz you're about as old Buffalo as it gets. Move off to the Charlotte where you belong.

Hmm... Six in the morning. Will there be a tunnel from the old pink?

Re: the above post.

In my opinion this earns the award for the most God awful post on Buffalo Rising EVER!

What a moron! Why don't you save your takes for the morning host at WBEN... tell the screener you're into Civil War memorabilia, posters of klibben cats, vinyl LPs from the disco era, you think Condi is hot, and you have a license number of a car full of olive skinned Middle Eastern men taking photos of the water intakes and you'll be the first on the air to spew this kind of blather.

Anyone doubting the commitment to this project need only to take a drive down Mississippi Street and see for yourself what a magnificent job Savarino has done on the first phase of the transformation, the millions they sunk into their own corporate office building.

From what I've been told, the loft rehab is awaiting legal approval of condo docs from the state. Hopefully those of us interested in Cobblestone Lofts will get some fresh information from the Savarino people at the tour on Saturday.

New 'downtown' development news will look better when (IF) the number of vacant housing units no longer threatens the number of owner-occupied units in zip codes such as 14213. Emptying the West, East, and South of the city doesn't seem to be balanced by a few score or hundred new units Downtown.

My take on the Downtown housing "boom" : How to live in The City without dealing with pesky poor or Black or Hispanic neighbors. Converting a commercial district to expensive apartments avoids all the bothersome social issues, doesn't it? Don't 'pioneer' on a nasty street like Hoyt! Go for the gusto, in your $1500 per month "loft" with 100% White Yuppie neighbors in a cobblestone street with neighbors just like yourself! :)

Six in the morning is awesome! It's good news for those of us who need to make a coffee stop on our way out to work in the hinterlands of Exchange Street.

DrKay, I don't see anything wrong with not wanting to live in a poor neighborhood. Poor neighborhoods usually come with higher crime rates. I've lived in one of those downtown 'hoods for the past two years, and have twice had my wallet stolen. I was mugged once (scary) and had my pocket picked once (annoying) both times just down the street from my home, while I was returning from a nice night of downtown entertainment. Ironically, I turned down a ride from one of my friends one of those times in favor of walking. (Know how we're always saying that people who live in a city shouldn't need cars?) If I had accepted that ride, I wouldn't have been mugged that night. Anyway, that's working out to one such incident per year, so it is a bit hard for me to criticize anyone for factoring in those "pesky poor...neighbors" when considering a new neighborhood. (Note I omitted "black and hispanic" because race and ethnicity have nothing to do with it.) Poor people, and often drug addicted people, are desperate--and it doesn't matter what they look like. They'll do whatever they have to do, and your good intentions don't mean a thing to them. if you're paying premium rent or a couple thousand dollars per month for a mortgage and possibly an association fee, then I can understand not wanting to deal with such urban blight issues. I have not yet decided to move out of my neighborhood, but not everyone would have the stomach for it. And I think you should be less critical of others.

We appreciate the support on our new project in Cobblestone District and look forward to opening soon. There should be alot of excitement for the Cobblestone Development. For the first time real dollars are being invested in area. I tried to develop in area back in 1998 amongst a ton of talk and potential development....nothing, but talk. Finally Savarino Companies and Avalon Development invested bigtime in area and had a vision to create a true neighborhood/business district. This was done with no fanfare or "govt" dollars. Their investment drew our attention and ultimately the development of our Irish pub...no waiting for Bass Pro or Casino or whatever! Take in the arena, waterfront development and potential casino and we have the base to move forward and will develop a world class Irish Pub So Newell had put out there a call for people to suggest or act on unique opportunities in area. Now is the time...the developers have created a base. There have been great ideas so far..."retro bowling alley" to "Urban Outfitter" type store. Why not boutique Hair Salon or Workout facility...additional restaurants are a must and can flourish in area. Buffalo Rising presence in area can stimulate area for Creative agencies and service related business(including galleries+studios)...kinda of like Buffalo's Creative Business District....Tim Tielman had vision years ago of retail/business mix not unlike Portland Maine Waterfront...Toronto's Distillery District is another perfect example...my point is now is the time, more than ever, to develop the Cobblestone District....don't wait for Bass Pro or the Casino...now..the private sector has planted the seeds. We are excited. I also would be happy to share research which supports the viabilty and stability of District.

BASS PRO IS NEVER COMING OT BUFFALO - EVERYONE NEEDS TO START REALIZING THAT - and quite honestly, I never thought a large hunting and fishing store would reall add much value to downtown.

We must take matter into our own hands or change will NEVER happen!

Yes, the seeds have been planted. The cobblestone lofts and this new pub/cafe will hopefully set the stage for further investment.

But most of the cobblestone's streets are completey blanketed by expansive parking lots. There is only one block that is fully occupied by buildings.

It will take a massive amount of new construction to make this area look like anything comparable to DUMBO, The Pearl District, South Loop, or the South End.

Are Buffalo developers risk-taking enough to build up entire new city blocks?

GoD Please let their be developments on those massive parking lots in the Cobblestone District. It will never be vibrant with only one block filled and a few resturants.

I hope we can start replacing those huge parking lots too. I can't wait!

Speaking of the Cobblestone District, Whats happening with the Benlin Lofts? and since the DL&W was in the paper as a future site of the Convention Center...does anyone know the square footage on the 2nd floor of the DL&W? How does it compare to the footage of the existing Convention Center?

Just a thought?

I'm not sure of the exact footprint requirements, but that parking lot behind the blue HSBC building looks like the perfect spot for a new Bills stadium. The new convention center could probably be incorporated into it. The Convention Bureau could then sell it with three large assembly areas (the arena, Bills and Bisons stadiums) within blocks of one another. A roof would be needed on the new stadium for year round use (retractable on game day). And there probably wouldn't be an additional parking space needed considering all the lots and ramps currently available.

Pat yourself on the back a little more, Diff'rent. You agree with with what I wrote, yet delude yourself with "city living" claims. Race and ethnicity have as "much to do with it" as income. Downtown Yuppieland won't look so good when it's completely surrounded by ghetto (which it already is, mostly). Oh, but you'll be able to avoid it by using the 33 or Thruway to the Galleria, won't you? Then pop up to Elmwood for a $5 coffee so you can feel sophisticated.

You only further convince me that people paying $1500 in a $500 town are suckers. A segregated enclave in the middle of a dying city is no way to improve our situation around here.

ps - Criticism is given as deserved.

DrKay,

I'm not sure I understand your point, if you have one, other than simply trying to be a d***.

Are you trying to make the groundbreaking claim that having fully occupied high price point downtown apartments won't heal all the city's problems? If that's the case, wow, thanks for the insight.

Or are you going further and claiming that these apartments, which attract people with significant discretionary income to downtown, are not even slightly positive for the city? Now that would be a novel point, though it's also remarkably idiotic.

Or, instead, are you just trying to dump on 'yuppies' for no real good reason other than you don't like their 'lifestyle'?

who wants to pay 1500 and worry about their BMW getting broken into or stolen by some 16 yr old punk who wears his pants below his ass and will shoot you for a dime bag? not me, ill stay where I am, you can have downtown...nothing but welfare and crime

I think this is great and see huge potential for the cobblestone area, Im hoping it expands down exchange street theres tons of space and plenty of old buildings to restore, perfect for more lofts, restaurants, and bars, and theres already great established businesses in the area, Chefs, Ditandos(I think this is great and see huge potential for the cobblestone area, Im hoping it expands down exchange street theres tons of space and plenty of old buildings to restore, perfect for more lofts, restaurants, and bars, and theres already great established businesses in the area, Chefs, Ditandos(<~SP?), LCO building

OMG!

"Darcy's was the first faux Irish pub in town. Just what we need in the heart of what was the original home of the Buffalo Irish. And from a lace curtain Brinkworth no less. My grandfather must be spinning...."

I'd swear I was reading Frank McCourt or James Farrell...

All laughing aside, I'd really dig a new bookstore downtown... one with a large frontage of world papers, shiny covered magazines and some tables out front to read after grabbing a coffee/tea at Snug!

This development calls for a similar syngergy as found at Spot/New World Record/Brodo Bistro/Blockbuster @ Elmwood/Cleveland. Always busy, always a draw.

The concept sounds strong.

Lively postings..when I left teaching in the burbs my sister said come on home.I told her I was home.I bought a condo and moved to Allentown.Native Buffalonians should see what a great place the city is and can be.Senior empty nesters have the wherewithal to be a demographic market in the city.