It’s A Family Affair

It’s A Family Affair

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Apr 12th, 10:09am By queenseyes

Think Financial Student Loans

Ellicott Street is certainly going through a small renaissance these days. The addition of SeaBar will act as a big draw to the neighborhood. But it is a certain family that has caught my interest in past weeks… a family that I believe will play an incredible role in the street’s ongoing stability. Fix Salon and Aesthetic’s Michael Roetzer is taking the lead in drawing almost his entire family to work on the now family business. Michael recently moved back from Manhattan where he worked at a salon in the Meatpacking District, and before that Bumble and bumble. “I see the Ellicott District as a place with a lot of potential… like the Meatpacking District,” he told me. “I decided to move back to Buffalo because I wanted to be here to play a part in the city’s revival. My family has been in the salon business for a long time… so when my sister Rebecca heard what I was doing she packed up her bags and moved back from Santa Fe to help. My brother Peter, who is an architect, designed the interior. My dad (also Peter) poured the industrial concrete floor, then waxed and scraped it to give it a modern acid-washed look. My other sister Annette, an esthetician in town, is coming to work here as well. And my mom Rosanne even came out of early retirement and will be a stylist with us.”

The departmentalized salon and spa is based on a sort of a cube-in-cube concept. The gauntlet gray walls are offset by raised open and enclosed bamboo workstations. All of the walls feature either turret looking windows, concealed cubbies or sliding mirrors. The workstation design resembles a very simple extended ‘S’ shape with squared edges. There are many hard industrial features, but those are totally offset by the warm color of the earth-friendly bamboo and the muslin curtains that run the length of the hallway. The simple Asian look will go extremely well with the sushi bar across the glass corridor. Actually, if I didn’t know better I would think that Fix could double as a sushi bar. How ‘bout some sushi with that manicure? “I wouldn’t have done this anywhere else,” Michael told me. “When I said I was moving back to Buffalo everyone asked me why I wanted to open up downtown. I love this area. The people that live in this building keep stopping in and asking for business cards to give to their friends. They are helping to promote the business already because they are so happy to see us here.”

Fix will be opening next week. They are still looking for someone to do manicures and pedicures… so if you know of anyone, please have them drop off his or her info to 475 Ellicott Street (near the Washington Market). 716-858-4332

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feed your soul buffalo

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  1. GDC

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 12th, 16:02

    WELCOME Downtown and to Buffalo. From these photos, the place already looks great and should be a success. These are the type of stories I like to hear too. Of people either moving back and or bringing with them people from outside the area and starting a new business.

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  2. downtowngal

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 12th, 19:24

    Welcome to the neighborhood! We'll do whatever we can to spread the word. With the Washington Market's new owners, we have synergy. Thanks for being here for us.

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  3. wizardofza

    4 ratings12345
    Apr 13th, 00:07

    Seeing new businesses pop up downtown is always great news, BUT....since when does a sushi bar and hair salon = renaissance?

    Let's not get carried away with excessive hyperbole....

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  4. wizardofza

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 13th, 00:26

    oops my bad....spa

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  5. tudorguy

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 13th, 08:36

    Wizard, I think what was meant by using "renaissance" was this area of the street has seen a good deal of concentrated redevelopment and rebirth - Washington Market, new housing, other businesses and a restaurant moving in. Rebirth is basically what renaissance means.

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  6. simcoe

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 13th, 09:32

    wiz-They have synergy isn't that enough for you?

    Report this

  7. GDC

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 13th, 13:20

    This block was DEAD 10 years ago, it's coming alive now.

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  8. sbrof

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 13th, 14:09

    take this block before the IS lofts moved in and tell me that it isn't moving forward. Maybe renaissance is a big large but it certainly is moving forward and growing. It is amazing what can happen when people starting living downtown again. Keep the people coming and you will continue to see the businesses and services follow.

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  9. Biniszkiewicz

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 13th, 14:52

    Before Rocco did his projects here, I wanted to make this the red light district (legalized, indoors, low key. If I had been king, anyway). I figured these blocks would never come back otherwise. Silly me. Happy to be proven wrong again. He's done a nice job on this block. Some might object to the fake old-timey infill on Washington, but I like what Rocco's done.

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  10. ghettofblous

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 14th, 10:38

    I think this block of Buffalo is definitely on the upswing. I thoroughly enjoy the facade and detail that was given to these buildings, and like the "old-time" feel that they provide us with. I also enjoy the modern mix that Fix has provided as well...it is good design to mix modern interiors with "old-time" feeling buildings, which is what was done in this case. This spa looks fabulous from the outside and can't wait to get me hair did there! It has a very inviting feeling, and knowing this family personally, will be one of the most inviting places in the city...open door policy in full effect! The Roetzers should be commended for thier committment to helping the growth of downtown, and becoming just a piece of the evolution of downtown. These are the pieces that will help put the whole masterpiece together that is Buffalo. Good job Michael and the rest of the Roetzers, I am happy for you, and moreso, proud to know you all. Keep up the excellent work, and keep on pushing!

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