The Comfort Zone Cafe at 1002 Elmwood Avenue is breaking through their side wall in order to enhance offerings to their already satisfied and burgeoning client base. According to Manager Zenia Barrett, daughter of owners Cindy and Chuck Barrett, the new digs will attach the current storefront to the former *Cosefini space, via archway.
The menu isn’t changing, but the new room will have couches and love seats to go with the free, unlimited wifi Comfort Zone offers. “We’re keeping our current space for people who want to sit and eat, but in addition to the lounge area, we’re going to have a Quad-B Systems satellite store for computer repair. It’s my dad’s business, and we thought it would be a good service to offer, especially since we’re a wifi cafe.”
When asked when she hoped the new space would be ready to occupy, Zenia laughed, “Uh…last week?” It seems there were some permitting issues with the existing tin ceiling in the Cosefini spot. “There is concern over fire safety, and we’re hoping to leave the ceiling alone, even if we have to install a fireproof door between the rooms,” Zenia explains. “The inspector has been really nice and he’s squeezing us in tomorrow morning to see if we can clear this up quickly. The landlord is being very helpful too.”
The Comfort Zone has been a very popular spot on the strip, and the addition of a lounge and computer repair will make this successful, homegrown family business all the more enjoyable. We hope it happens soon!
*Cosefini, owned by Cathleen Finan was a very healthy and much-loved Buffalo business as well. It closed only because Finan made a decision to go back to school to become a Physician’s Assistant, something she’s always wanted to do.