While traveling down East Ferry the other day, I couldn’t help but notice this colorful boutique situated at this corner. I pulled over and walked inside to see where this boutique had come from, seemingly overnight. I was greeted by Harry Stokes, the same proprietor who had had a store in this same location twenty years ago. “I closed for a long time,” Harry said. “And I worked until retiring just recently. My original store was here for 18 years… it closed in ’87. I have no wife and no kids, so this is my hobby. The neighbors tell me that they have been waiting for the day that I was going to reopen. I’m the only one in the entirety of WNY who is doing what I’m doing. I have ten lines of Afro-centric cards, with fifteen more on the way. I’m here to deliver the goods.”
As for the colorful paint job? Harry told me that he has been inspired by many of the shops on Elmwood over the years. The boutique’s vibrant colors certainly attracted my attention. While speaking to Harry about his passion for recreating the store, it became clear to me that the man loves what he does. He’s devoting his retirement to keeping shop and selling products to the neighborhood. “Find a job that you love,” he said. “And you’ll never work another day in your life.” It’s obvious that Harry is living by those words of wisdom. He’s also giving back to the East Side – a community that deserves to have a corner store such as this.
Our World sells books, bibles, Qurans, black soaps, body oils, bangles, Shea butter, Afro-art, rings and Afro-home decor – it’s dedicated to a world of ethnic delights. Stop in a pay a visit to Harry… he’s a one-man show on this block of East Ferry, so you really can’t miss him!
Our World Boutique is located at 863 East Ferry Street | Buffalo, NY 14211 | 716-896-2519