Buffalo Shirts, Gifts, Cards and More… Oh My!
Definitely Buffalo has been located inside the Main Place Mall since 1995. The shop is a unique gift-lovers paradise, which just so happens to be dedicated to the City of Buffalo. Owner, Joan Miller, opened her business to showcase a variety of hard-to-find merchandise that represents the city in which we live. It seemed the only items of clothing she would see (prior to opening) were Bills and Sabres-related, and she wanted to carry more unique items, which represented the city she loves.
Years of working in retail along with a passion for her hometown were the key elements to her initial success. She began traveling across the state to visit vendor shows in order to get ideas about what sort of merchandise to carry. She continues that practice to this very day. First she began buying, and then she opened a space in the Main Place Mall… a space that stocks glass wear, wooden carvings, paintings, photographs, shirts, hats and gifts for all ages. She then moved on to Buffalo-made foods such as sponge candy, horseradish, hot sauce, books, and magazines.
Her business not only sells unique items pertaining to Buffalo, when I asked Joan what other things she sells, she answered, “I sell Buffalo. Every time someone buys something it’s like selling an image of the city and what it means to people. It’s all part of promoting the place where you live and work.” The merchandise is a mix from local and out of town artists and designers, and Joan and is always willing to check out new and creative Buffalo items so that she can offer updated creations to her customers.
I love hearing that her customers are a mix of locals, ex-pats, downtown workers, tourists, and visitors here for conventions. At Definitely Buffalo you can create your own gift basket s while receiving recommendations on where to visit in town - what events are happening and so on.
Worried about Parking? Plenty of parking underneath the Main Place Mall, and best of all, it's FREE on Saturday.
Definitely Buffalo - Main Place Mall - 1st Level - Buffalo, NY 716-856-7399
Joan is the Best! Love her taste in decorative pieces.
Would love to see a location in Allentown or Elmwood Village .......
I'm glad that Definitely Buffalo is downtown. Joan has saved me several times by being able to buy awesome cards from Great Arrow Graphics and Buffalo-themed items for my out-of-town friends or relatives. She is very friendly and helpful. Where Pavlov's Togs serves Elmwood, Definitely Buffalo serves downtown.
Joan and her husband, Chuck, are distant cousins. They also own the Deer Head Inn at 2683 Clinton St in the Gardenville portion of West Seneca. Check it out sometime!
Did you mean that Joan and her husband are cousins? Or that your mom and Joan are cousins? Just wondering -- big difference.
Any plans for a website? I am an ex-pat and am always looking to buy great Buffalo stuff my myself and gifts!
Forgive the typos...
Any plans for a website? I am an ex-pat and I'm always looking to buy great Buffalo stuff for my myself and gifts for friends and family!