Spirit of the Westside
"It's looking pretty cheery over there at this point. I've reassessed what the corner really means to me since we last spoke in June. It's going to be a West Side artists’ community. I'm going to call the artist's complex 'HOME'. I always felt that this corner should be warm and inviting... while focusing on the community at the same time. I want it to be like a town center. I feel like there is a niche out there that has not been filled. The corner location will be converted into an old-world cafe. I'm not into the laptop coffee shop kind of thing. I have a vision that this will be more creative and welcoming. The second and third floor will be rented to artists who may want to show in the gallery adjoining the cafe. Who else can bring back a community other than artists? The interior of the gallery will feature high ceilings and brick walls. The space next to that is where my sister is going to open up a very different and creative flower shop. There is one space still left... I'm looking big-time for someone to open their dream trattoria to go along with the gallery, the cafe, the flower shop and the artist studios. I am open-minded as to what will go in there. The rent is cheap, the parking is easy (two public lots)... and the rest of the tenants will make this corner into a small community of people who love art, food, coffee, flowers... I really envision it being something of old-world flavor."
It won't be long until the community will have another Grant Street destination on its hands. Just think of all the people who frequent Guercio's who would love to be able to walk a few more doors down to grab a cup of coffee and a bunch of flowers in the morning. "We're aiming for a May 1st opening," Prish told me. "There is so much that we can do for this West Side community. The coffee shop will be called Sweet_Ness 7 Cafe. There is a wonderful story behind the name... I'm stronger in my commitment to bringing artists to Grant Street, and I believe that there is going to be a chain reaction... as a matter of fact, we're already starting to see spill-off. The formal entrance to the church (built in 1920 on the property) will become a community space. There is even a studio between the church and the coffee shop that I have rented to an artist from Seattle... he's my first official tenant, and he's excited to host shows that will be open to the public. Work is starting on the artist apartments next week... if you know of any artists looking for brand new spring diggs... or if anyone out there is looking to open a trattoria... have them send me an email.
In the email, subject matter should read, “Grant Street Trattoria or Grant Street artist loft.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
CMC Presents 4th Annual Queen City Jazz Festival
Last year, around 4,000 people packed in the area between Michigan Ave. and Elm St. by 145 Broadway St. in downtown Buffalo for the Queen City Jazz Festival. This year, president of The Colored Musicians Club (CMC) of Buffalo, George Scott, says “The crowds have been getting bigger and bigger as it goes on.”
As the fourth annual festival, this year promises to be a big event. There will be a beer tent and food vendors and this year the gallery to the CMC will be open. The gal … - Today, 11:46am
- Continue Reading
- 4 Comments
-
"Chess for Beginners"
There are some people who dabble in the game of chess, and then there are those who live the game. I've been reading about a few different chess clubs in Buffalo, but not being an avid player I'm not sure which ones are best for different levels of play. Some of the tournament play that I have heard about is only to be left to the experts. That's why I finally decided to post on a beginners series in August that takes place at the Main Place Mall.
The Archangel 8 Chess Academy is … - Today, 10:25am
- Continue Reading
- 1 Comments
-
Shark Has Teeth in Buffalo
Moe Boukadida grew up in Tunisia, North Africa, attended college in Russia, is fluent in four languages, and calls Buffalo "home".
The owner of the American rights to Shark Energy Drink started his first entrepreneurial venture long ago, at the age of 13, and with the exception of a few glitches that furthered his business sense, he has soared upward ever since.
"I started my first venture when I was 13. My friend's father sold computers, and I would buy parts from him and se … - Today, 10:01am
- Continue Reading
- 5 Comments
-
Construction Watch: Seneca Creek Casino
On July 8, US District Court Judge William M. Skretny determined the Seneca Nation of Indians could not legally operate a gambling casino on their nine-acre Michigan Avenue site. “Business as usual,” said Seneca Nation President Maurice A. John, Sr. the day after the decision. Nearly two weeks later, gambling continues in the temporary facility and work on the permanent casino is proceeding. - Today, 12:53am
- Continue Reading
- 82 Comments
Comment Options
chris69
I always loved this building and Grant Street really needs an anchor. This is being done in such a way that it can grow organically to adjacent buildings.
If Buffalo State were smart they would take some of their campus buildings like the bookstore or the teachers offices and put them on Grant.
The only thing is something about class and taste. Please get rid of the light colors for paint. A dark color in the paint will bring out the beautiful brick. It would also be beneficial to replace those windows with a french pane double hung.
This will most definitely be successful because LaFayette and Grant is one of the best corners on Grant. Plus it will attract businesses and residents (especially students) that are priced out of Elmwood!
Report this
LivingForge
This sounds great, but I sense that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. What bothers me is the line about the "laptop coffee shop thing." Just because it isn't your thing doesn't mean that its not imperative to the artists and their crowd who your desire to "bring back a community." Creatives - of which many can be found nearby at Buff State - serially demand a plug for their laptop and free wireless internet connectivity. Any cafe trying to stay afloat needs these two elements (and possibly bright spot lights for reading). Old world feeling and decor might be your thing - and that's fine - but don't forget about the things that your target customers crave.
Report this
ChocolateShake
Is this where Paula Polinski has her studio?
Report this
TownLine
Prish is an amazing person with a boatload of heart for this project. I have no doubt that it will be second to none.
In regards to the "laptop coffee shop thing," I think Prish is right on with this. Sure, there are a lot of people that need to bury their faces in the computer at the coffee shop, but laptops can often be a horrible thing for coffee shop business. They cause people to sit around for hours, taking up seating, often spending little money. Meanwhile, others that want to come in and have a sandwich with their drink have no place to sit. How many times have we all gone into Aroma for lunch or a snack and decide to leave because every single table with 4 chairs at it is taken up by a single laptopper that has been there for hours with only their $1.00 cup of coffee?
Report this
DumpsterKid
I wish that american campus communities, the company responsible for the expensive and ugly sweet home village and new chesnut ridge villas out in amherst, would instead build on Grant street, what this area needs are more students.
Report this
dixiechick
Great Spirit for Grant Street! Kudos to Prish!
I agree with LivingForge as well as TownLine. Things to consider. May I suggest to Prish, that when the coffee shop opens, that she have an old fashioned 'suggestion box' to see wether or not a wifi scene is needed. And, yes....there are those folks who hog up space for hours for the price of a cup of coffee....maybe something could be creatively done about that....As a business owner and a wifi seeker myself, I would rather have students, neighbors, professors coming into my establishment instead of heading over to Wegman's during their down time. Don't know the sq ftage of the site, but maybe there could be harmony between the two?
As a person of a certain age, I usually don't spend hours on my laptop in a coffee shop. But I always have my laptop with me, and when I have a moment, I like to (and need to) check my email, click on to BRO, etc. THen I enjoy my meal, and converse or take in the ambience. And having spent 5 years of my early adulthood in the restuarant business, I alway make sure that the time I may take up a table is reflected in my tip, and my order (even if I am taking it home for dinner). Etiquette anyone?
I'm excited to see this venture grow!
Report this
RisingDamp666
Charge the Wi Fi'ers rent. At clubs, it's called "bottle service": you want to sit and hang out? Spend some F-ing money. And have a frequent shopper card, let your best customers WiFi for free. It's cold and impersonal and cuts against the "free-everything" hippy-dippy culture, but the kids might as well learn early that their world is coin-operated.
Report this
BetterThanDetroit
Flawless RD666! Do you think that Congress St gangs will be able to switch to decaf?
Report this
Sal
What a great building on the corner - amazing turret and interesting play of brickwork. The temple facade on the adjacent building is cool also.
Report this
RisingDamp666
The gangs are just so fussy when it comes to espresso drinks, BTD, I've seen Bloods and Crips outside a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Westwood battling it out over the height of their "crema" and whether the Barrista should towel the side of a cappucino or leave the errant foam 'in situ' ( their words ). But they do pay with cash and as everyone knows, no coffee house reports that.
Report this
BetterThanDetroit
SpOt Chess Club has lifted the truce with the Starbucks Lizards (apparently named that for basking in the sun on that patio on Chip/Del) gang. I will presume this is going to get ugly...
Report this
icecreamsub
Annunication Church School is also for sale for $450K. This would be a great place for lower to moderately priced lofts.....nothing against the high end level ones being designed for the waterfront or on Potomac/Brantford, but Buffalo has far more of a demand I would think at the lower end of the homeowner, rental spectrum...this seems like an easier sell than downtown being that there are already people and stuff going on close by.
Report this
LivingForge
Starbucks grew their empire on people sitting around in their stores. They created their environments as "third spaces" that provided people a space in the community outside of work and home to hang out, meet up with people, or work/play away from pressures from office or domestic pressures. As far as I know, an active crowded cafe is superior to an empty one. Free wireless means a lot of coffee refills, and eventually a baked good or other food item too. Starbucks is even taking advantages of these dreaded laptop freeloaders by selling them music, mugs, and coffee machines.
Unless you're going in to the drive-through coffee business, the more time you can have your customers in contact with your cafe the better off you are. Cafes are no longer places to get coffee. They are spaces that people have affinities to, places they seek out to spend parts of their day in, working, web browsing, doing whatever. All I'm saying is that for the under-30 crowd, the "laptop thing" is a deciding factor whether or not to commit to a cafe space.
Report this
wizardofza
I've always loved this cute corner building. Though, I want to know what's the plan to actually get young artsy types to come to a cafe at this location? How do you convince them they'll feel safe coming down to Grant? Remember, this street still has a pretty ghettorific reputation. Just take a drive and see the street lined with every sort of degenerate possible.
Hoping that the target clientele reads BRO, sees this post/ad, and will feel sorry enough for Grant to come down and give the place a try is not a viable business plan. Cutting out wi-fi (a key requirement for a successful contemporary cafe) just makes this even more of a stretch.
Report this
sbrof
I don't mind Grant, even have gotten my suburban minded girlfriend to go there for Guercio's during the daylight hours but really cutting out WiFi is going to be a stretch. I don't even go to the Spot on Elmwood because of the lack of WiFi. Sure they make lots of business but unfortunately grant isn't Elmwood... yet.
I think this project is HUGE to improving upon the stability of guercio's and maybe we can go hang out for a while before / after shopping in the future but WiFi is the staple that brings people back to work as well as relax. I would have probably failed last year if it wasn't for Spot ON Chippewa's WiFi network and constant supply of coffee..
Report this
whitney
I don't know if it's been mentioned but Spot on Delaware gives you a password for Wi-Fi that expires after two hours of use. I think it's especially important to have an internet option given the proximity of the cafe to Buff State.
As a homeowner in the area, I'm excited. I saw Prish taking mountains and mountains of garbage out of the place this past spring and summer. Best of luck and can't wait to buy a cup!
Report this
mycrows
All I can say is that if you're going for an "old-world style" cafe then get a real espresso machine--don't cut corners on that part of your business. The best thing about cafes in other cities' Italian neighborhoods is the incredibly high quality espresso. It won't be a challenge to have the best espresso in Buffalo, and that might be a real draw for people who are sick of Starfux/Spot. For me, I don't care much about wifi, but if the coffee is good I'll be in there regularly.
Report this
mdc
Newell forgot to mention that Prish and her husband were involved in "Project Twinkle" on Norwood Ave. They took a dilapidated eyesore that probably would have been demolished, and restored it to a beautiful Victorian. We saw the house when it was being sold for $4500.00 and it scared my contractor father so much he talked us out of buying it. Prish and her family were not afraid and they saved the house. Kudos to Prish for having a vision and the courage to take on these projects. This is the only way our city will change. I have lost all hope that our politicians will do anything.
Report this
Frankenberry
What about a bakery. Not enough in the city.
Report this
scully27926
I live nearby and often take the bus downtown for work. Somewhat suprisingly, there are always quite a few people waiting at the bus stop with me and I have always thought that it would be great if there were a donut/muffin/breakfast sandwich shop where I could spend a couple bucks while waiting for the bus. I hope the coffee shop will open early and offer people headed to work some nice breakfast options! Thanks Prish for choosing this building to rehab and good luck!
Report this