As work is underway sprucing up the outside of this Grant Street building, brisk sales are being conducted on the inside. The street’s newest business, Golden Burma, will help the neighborhood live up to its growing ‘Market Place’ identity. Originally the plan had been to open a market place under one roof. Rather than pushing a concept that might not have been ripe five years ago, there has been a natural grassroots movement that has seen a rash of Asian markets opening on Grant and Niagara. Each with its own character and charm.
Golden Burma is no exception. The market is filled with all sort of goods – canned, packaged, frozen, meats, fish, produce and even day to day sundries. To tell you the truth, when I walk into these types of places I am pretty clueless as to what many of the items are. I recognize some images on labels, an occasional product, some of the produce, but that’s about it. Seeing the number of customers that frequent these types of markets assures me that the owners know what they are doing, and that it is me who is the ignorant tourist in my own city. It doesn’t mean that I feel uncomfortable just because I like to browse items that are so foreign to me. Quite the opposite. I’m a curious person, so I find it enjoyable to walk down the aisles, picking up products, seeing if I can figure out what the heck it is, and occasionally buying something that looks like I might like it – usually some sort of juice and not the vacuum packed frog legs that I saw in the freezer section.
I’m also fascinated by the vibrant colors that appear on the facades of the building that scream “Life!” Just knowing that there is a Burmese population in the city that can support all of these new ventures is comforting. As if overnight, neighborhoods on the West Side of the city are going through welcome identity changes that are reawakening our senses and sensibilities. I can’t wait for the first Asian kitchen accessory store to open. Yes, you can find pots and pans and woks – but I’m talking about the ones that are loaded with miso bowls, decorative silk napkins, Maneki Nekos (beckoning cats), etc… like the ones in Chinatown in Toronto. At this point, one step at a time is fine with me. Who would have guessed that there would be such a groundswell so quickly? Heck, you never know… maybe I’ll learn how to cook some of this stuff… anything but the frog legs.
Golden Burma
92 Grant Street
Buffalo NY 14213
716-551-0175