Buffalorising has been redesigned.

I collect brewerania - like old beer trays and steins. Would like to see some stuff like that.

Artwork. Paintings, scultpures, things to decorate my bland little apartment with.

Just EVERYTHING and ANYTHING.

I agree with Nicole, small decorative artsy kind of stuff to display on my empty shelves!!

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My hope is that we can find local 'experts' in their fields to help organize the different categories of merchandise. If we can get input then we can try to find the right people. Anthony Cuellar, for example, is a book enthusiast who has offered to help organize the literature-end of the market.

You people still actually think that a flea market downtown is a good idea? Have you ever walked down Main St.?

Bizzles, and how do you expect that to change if nobody tries something new? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So, unless you have a better solution or something else to try, I vote you keep your "debbie downer" comments to yourself.

I would like to see:
-Flower/plant vendors
-People selling their own food products that they have created but don't have enough money to get them into grocery stores.
-A food court with a wide variety of ethnic foods--not 5 different pizza joints
-Chocolates/pastries
-Purses
-Clothing accessories
-Candles/incense
-Home Decor-the more ecclectic the better
-a deli/meat counter
-a fish market
-fresh fruit and veggies
-Books, records
-stands that sell NEW products, not junk trying to be recycled--we already have two of those in the area. We need something different that the other flea markets aren't doing or offering.

I am a bit concerned with the concept of this downtown bazaar. I still think that a public market like the one in Rochester, NY would not only be a better fit for Buffalo but also have a much better chance to succeed. I remember when the Tri-Main building had a bazaar and it did not work.

I really believe food has to be the central focus of this market. Yes, other items should also be a part of the mix but a wide variety of food stuffs should be the main focus. From fresh fish to flowers, cheese to baguettes, local produce, and prepared foods are all an excellent draw. There should be a mix of climate controlled interior space as well as covered outdoor pavillions (again-see the Rochester Public Market). Throw in some live music and cooking demonstrations by local chefs and now you're talking.

I really do urge those of you looking to open this Bazaar to go on a tour of the Rochester Public Market and talk to those who make it work on a daily basis.

While I lived in Rochester, it became a weekly tradition to make it to the market early and go to the cheese guy and the bagel lady; you know...the characters that keep you coming back.

This would be a great fit for the cobblestone district and all the new development taking place there. It will add to the daily vitality of the place and keep it connected to everyday life in Buffalo.

If Buffalonians go to the market regularly, then visitors will find the place to be interesting and vibrant. We all love going to places like Pikes Place in Seattle or other great city market places.

Just my two cents.

Bizzles...have you ever been down main street during the downtown market in the summer? its fantastic and they always sell out of my favorite cookies.

i would like to see memoribilia and old furniture personally

There were always quirky little markets in the other cities I lived in. I may not have frequented them weekly but I certainly took advantage as much as I could. Frederick, MD has an awesome furniture/salvage co-op with tons of cool items. DC has Eastern Market, which is my favorite destination complete with food, art and goodies. Seattle not only had Pike, but smaller markets too like in Ballard. In terms of our market, make it family oriented; big cozy coffee shops, places for kids to run amok, vendors with toys. One thing I would like to see absent are stalls selling cheap, crappy knock-offs. Keep it fresh, artsy and fun.

lol "Debbie Downer" First off, I'm a guy. Second, my idea to fix downtown is called Panara Bread and Ikea. I am by no means advocating the status quo, I'm just saying a flea market might not be the best fit for a downtown area that already has image problems (many deserved and resulting from poor core city neighborhoods).

I like the open market idea far better, food always sells and people would enjoy more choices downtown.

Oh and whatever comes needs to sell electronics and computer eqiupment. That could be a stop gap for a serious retail need downtown.

if you could get a section for people to sell their new clothing designs, cheap, i and my friends would be there all the time. Frankly, we don't have the money to buy the "hip" clothes that are sold on elmwood, but we do have a sense of fashion. If the price were right, clothes designed by other b*loers would be at the top of my list of things to wear.

knock-off watches & knock-off sunglasses

Panara bread? ikea? what are you mental? so we can basically take away all of the local furniture stores, get morons who are afraid of real food all together and have a big cheap happy family.

Don't get me wrong I

Local generally stores sell specialty merchandise that appeals to a different type of customer. There is nothing wrong with bringing in a store like IKEA to bring more choices for everyone downtown. Chain stores are not evil.

Is it just me or does it sound like everyone is describing the Broadway Market??

Now that things have incubated a bit I am beginning to see two major goals, one- to give artists, crafters, etc, a viable opportunity to sell some products on a weekend, and two- to revitalize downtown by creating foot traffic to a new location.

But I may be offbase, maybe you guys want more of a flea market, It seemed like it started off as a fine arts and crafts; creative market, but ...i'm still unclear as to what the group really wants this thing to be and why.

Realistically, it is much more of a challenge to create foot traffic anywhere where there isnt already foot traffic. While this might become a future goal, If the real spark is to aid the crafter then its my opinion that the venue needs to be attached to somethigng else that already has a following but lacks creative wares. I suggest connecting it with the downtown farmers/food market on main but arent they just during the week?) or the weekend bidwell farmers market.

My position after soaking all this in- start managable, start successful and grow the appeal. Plus- consider giving a percentage of all sales to a local charity and rotate the charity each month, it will be great for attracting that charities' constituents.

Other then that, the blogger named Tom makes sense in suggesting to check out the Rochester Market and talking to it's organizers. Much can be learned from others who have gone through this.

Best wishes.

What a great idea -- instantly thought of the fab (but no longer bargain) outdoor Sunday flea markets in NY -- love it!

Yea I get what your saying Brian. I'm only opposed to a true flea market, not a specialty market. A true flea market is one thing that truly belongs in Cheektowaga. If the group here is proposing a specialty food, arts, or some other creative market then I'm all for it.

Vintage furniture, clothing, jewelry, collectibles, and a mix of funky stuff that will attract both collectors and those furnishing first homes, apartments, etc.
Food? If it is something unique or Bflo based.
Art? There are a ton of galleries and festivals. This shouldn't be the focus.
I think what happened in Chelsea (NYC) is a perfect example of what we want to EVOLVE.

think venice beach california...freaks, fashion and food...what could be more fun!

As a member of the "incubator team" I would encourage everyone to have an open mind about what the market will be. Some may be leaping to conclusions. We have several areas of interest represented and my impression has always been that the market will be a combination of things: art/craft, antiques, food, clothing, books, flea market items, etc. We hope to have entertainment and stuff for kids to do. This will be a true city market, attracting all sorts of folk to buy all sorts of things. I encourage everyone to continue telling us what you want to see there. This is going to happen.

In response to what Claudia said (or started to say, looks like it got cut off), I don't think Ikea would even impact our local furniture stores (or, at least, not the few in the city).
Someone who is shopping for a new bed isn't going to be stuck deciding if they want solid oak or whatever, or a flat-pack cheap platform bed made of pressboard they have to put together themselves. Its two different markets, like saying McDonalds will hurt the Buffalo Chophouse. The closest we have to someone that could be hurt by an Ikea is the furniture departments of the subruban big-boxers-target, walmart, kmart, and the like.

When is this going on?