This may not rank high on the excitement meter, but for some of us, it brought back memories. The former Icon space at 391 Ellicott Street is getting a new operator. Dwain Laws has applied for an on-premise liquor license for the property. The building is located behind the Genesee Gateway project in an area of downtown creeping back to life.
According to Laws’ application, the goal is to “provide an intimate, lively and comfortable atmosphere. The venue will be host to live entertainment of different forms, exceptional alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks and a restaurant that will provide exception food, service and quality.”
The Icon had a good run in the mid-90’s as Chippewa Street was just taking off to the west. One frequent patron, wishing to remain anonymous, says, “There weren’t many places in Buffalo that could make you feel like you’d wandered into some underground club in the seedy underbelly of NYC but populated by model and punk rock wannabes. I used to love it back in college when going there made me feel so damn hip. I especially used to like the breast pump video that they projected on the wall.”
The to-be-named 6,000 sq.ft. venue is expected to open later this year. No word yet on any potential exterior color changes.