One may ask, what is the connection between shopping at Tops Markets and eating at ethnic restaurants? The short answer is diversity.
But here is the longer response.
Since moving to Buffalo a few months ago from Toronto, I have become familiar with the choices I have as to where I can grocery shop. It’s basically Wegman’s or Tops.
(The Co-op is certainly also an option, but for purposes of this story, I will focus on the big two).
Since I live not far from the Wegman’s on Amherst Street, I began shopping there soon after my arrival. My first visit was a treat. I was amazed by the store’s appealing layout, its range of products, and over the top helpful customer service. I looked forward to future visits.
Soon after, I visited several Tops locations which are not too far from either where I live or where I go to school. I recall my first visit to Tops and having the diametrically opposite reaction I had to my visit at Wegmans. Tops looked like a warehouse. It was big, but it was bland and uninspiring. Get your groceries and get out. It wasn’t the shopping “experience” I had at Wegman’s. I thought I’d be a Wegman’s shopper for life.
But over the course of the past few months, something has changed. I like shopping at Tops. And specifically, the Tops on Niagara Street. And it’s dawned on me why.
This Tops reminds me of grocery shopping in Toronto. The Niagara store’s ethnic and racial diversity mirrors what I see in many urban Toronto supermarkets. At Tops on Niagara I see Hispanics, I see Caucasians, and African Americans. I see young college students from D’Youville, middle class West side professionals, and people who have not been as blessed with much money or good fortune. I see a range of colors, ethnicities and economic backgrounds. Just like what I see in Toronto. And it’s a nice sight to see. It reminds me of one of the things I miss about Toronto.
I’ve contrasted this to what I see when I (still) shop at Wegman’s on Amherst Street; primarily white, middle class families, and white middle class Buff State college students. Being white, middle class (and once again) a college student myself, I comfortably blend in at this Wegman’s store, and I still enjoy shopping there. But its homogenous customer base does not reflect the energy, and familiarity I feel (and prefer) when I walk into a more culturally diverse supermarket like the one on Niagara Street.
In fact, it’s this type of diversity that I would like to see more of in Buffalo. And from what I read, this diversity is already here. According to a recent Buffalo News series, the city has been absorbing more refugees than any other part of New York State, including NYC.
With a growing population of people from around the globe, wouldn’t it be nice to see this diversity reflected in the restaurants we eat in here? I recognize how expensive it is to start up an eatery. I recognize the huge economic risks too. And when you’ve only been in Buffalo a year, and have little money to start with, the thought of opening up a risky business is, well…risky business. Perhaps that is why we don’t see a Burmese, or Nigerian or Laotian restaurant in the city.
But what if there was a program in Buffalo to help refugees from these countries open a restaurant? What if there was a program where refugees could pool their resources together and augment them with resources from social and government agencies? Could the local credit unions get involved by providing micro loans to Buffalo’s newest residents so they can start up such establishments?
Recently, BRO did a story of a small take out place called Somali Star on Grant Street. What if others had access to resources to open up a restaurant or take out shops of their own? Think of what Grant Street could look like with a range of ethnic restaurants…that could spawn other businesses and shops, and bring life back to this part of the city.
There are many times I read on BRO how Buffalo can not compare itself to Toronto. In most cases I completely agree. But here is one instance where it can compare it favorably. Toronto has a plethora of ethnic eateries. Today, there is no reason why Buffalo can’t have more.
Doug Sitler
Doug Sitler has been part of Buffalo's public relations community since 1993. During the day, he serves at the Director of National Media Relations at University at Buffalo. In his spare time, he has been the creative force behind NIGHT LIGHTS, Rock the Barn Clarence, Griffis Sculpture Park Summer Festival and countless other events.