Now that Nickel City Cheese and Mercantile has opened on Elmwood Avenue (see story), we can see how this new trend of specialty food purveyors is affecting the street. In an age when supermarkets are turning into mega-markets, it’s almost unthinkable that the small specialized shops can stand a chance. Fortunately the opposite is true. Specialty stores selling cooking oils, spices… and now cheese are all the rage. One of the best benefits (for the Elmwood Village) that we are seeing with these recent successes are the new types of customer that are shopping the street. Instead of people just shopping for clothing and accessories, people are shopping for food – something that is an everyday purchase, which means that residents are staying closer to home more often in order to check off items on their grocery list.
As for Nickel City Cheese owner Jill Forster, she has hit a home run on Elmwood. The shop reminds me of an old general store that one might find in Vermont. The layout and attention to every detail is wonderful. She has taken a fairly small space and turned it into a variety store for shoppers looking to pick up specialty candies, pastas, baguettes, sparkling juices, olives, spreads, crackers, heirloom beans, San Marzano tomatoes, jams, mustards, crackers, nuts, cured meats and some of the finest cheese that you will be able to find anywhere in the United States. “It’s a dream come true,” Jill told me. “People are walking in the door and they’re buying. I’ve been gone away from Buffalo for so long (18 years) that I didn’t know what to expect. Everyone is telling me how excited they are to have a cheese shop on the street. They are also surprises to see so many cheeses that they are unfamiliar with – honestly, I have chosen all of my favorites. I could have gone out and purchased all of the everyday stuff, but I refuse to buy cheese that I don’t consider the best. We even make our own mozzarella… and goat cheese truffles. I’m working on our weekly flavored mac and cheese special too.”
Soon Jill we be starting her cheese classes and olive oil tastings. “I’m working with Tuscany on Main,” Jill smiled as she talked about her passion for food, Elmwood and the small business culture on the street. “The third Thursday of the month we will host tastings on the back patio – April 19th will be our first one. Already customers can’t wait… they come in with their kids and the mom and/or dad gives them a couple of Swedish fish to chew on while they ask about the cheese and try samples of all of the different flavors. I answer their questions about the shop, tell them about the classes, and hopefully they find something here that strikes their fancy.” Each time that I have stopped into the Nickel City there has been a short line of customers waiting to try a sample while asking Jill questions, pointing in the case, or handing goods over the counter to be rung up – all good signs for a fledgling business. I have a feeling that this trend will continue, as shoppers appear to appreciate the convenience, the variety and the quality of the products.
Now that we have spices, cooking oils, cheese, coffee, wines and beers, etc. on Elmwood, what could possibly be next?
Nickel City Cheese and Mercantile – Facebook
423 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
(716) 462-3804