Believe it or not, Sue Morreale, owner of Lotions and Potions ((L&P – Williamsville) has been searching for an urban location for her shop for over 10 years (on and off that is). I couldn’t believe it when I heard that she had finally landed a location at the corner of Elmwood and Auburn. “Everything was pulling us down here,” she told me. “The Co-op, my friends… the community. It seems like we’ve been here forever – there is a magical feeling on Elmwood. Williamsville was great to us, but it’s time to go in a new direction. We opened up our urban location last Monday after closing the other shop. We’re bringing over twenty years of experience (and lines) to the village. I’ve always wanted to be on Elmwood – finally everything felt right and fell into place… the location, the storefront and the energy.”
If you ever want to meet a couple of people who have fallen in love with a city, then stop into Lotions and Potions and introduce yourself to Sue and her daughter Ciara (named after a perfume). While I was speaking to them earlier today I almost got the sense that I had stepped onto the set of the movie Chocolat – seriously. When the two told me that they were planning on offering different tea concoctions to the villagers I couldn’t help but smile. Then I thought about the name of the business and their entire outlook on life… perfect. They brew their own organic lines of lotions and offer customers the ability to create their own fragrances. On top of that they offer delicate lines of lingerie, belts, hats, sunglasses, bulk organic teas, modified vintage jewelry, pocketbooks, handbags, scarves, wellness books and massage/shower gels.
As we all chatted, Ciara looked out the window and gazed down Elmwood Avenue. “That’s the best part,” she told me. I walked over to the window and saw a family walking down the avenue – the kids were all carrying sports equipment and the mom was shouldering a backpack filled with fresh greens from The Co-op. The street was filled with life and eclectic storefronts dotted the landscape. Movies, coffee, toys, treats, shoes, apparel, yoga, market goods, street fashion, salons, churches, a Laundromat, bikes, baked goods, sushi, Buffalo shirts, flowers, prepared food, take-out, bars… it was all there (and more is coming). Even Wilson Farms had stepped up to the plate to contribute a new design that has helped to spruce up the nearby corner.
To top off the whole Lotions and Potions experience, I discovered that Sue had teamed up with Buffalo Sabre’s goalie Ryan Miller. The store was stocking a bunch of the same jean lines that he was carrying at his shop in Michigan. Partial proceeds from each sale of a Miller line will be heading for Ryan’s charity, the Steadfast Foundation. L&P customers will even be able to order directly form Ryan’s own store in Michigan… find something that you like at The Refinery.com and Sue can get it for you. Not bad! And if that wasn’t enough, L&P fans can book the shop for private parties. I can just see the wedding parties now – seated at the mixing bar while sipping tea and nibbling on green tea mints. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of stuff to go around for the guys, including Anthony Logistics skin care – a line that donates partial proceeds to researching colon cancer.
This new Elmwood addition certainly packs a number of punches for all the right reasons. It’s just one more excuse to head to Elmwood and support the small business community that continues to make huge strides towards making this a great city.
Lotions and Potions is located at 798 Elmwood Avenue – 716-886-6457
