‘room2’ recently opened at the Hotel Lafayette, bringing with it the necessities of gift shopping to those in need of something special for just about any occasion. Situated in-between Woyshners Flower Market and the Pan American Grill and Brewery, ‘room2’ offers visitors to the hotel, nearby office workers and loft dwellers the chance to pick up something nice without having to head across town.
Like any fledgling retailer in Buffalo, it is important to remember that by supporting the pioneers, we are making it easier for other retailers to open down the line. While at this point, there is no critical mass of retailers, ‘room’ counts on hotel traffic for sustainability, much like Sarah Danielle Clothing depends on the Ellicott Square Building for many of its customers. To have downtown dwellers support the initiative would be icing on the cake.
In the case of ‘room2’, the hope is that the quality of the offerings will spread by word of mouth. After all, ‘room’ has an established reputation for carrying some great products. The items on the floor of the downtown location cater to the downtowners, and even reflect the shoppers that might frequent the hotel. Buffalo themed gifts are selling exceptionally well, such as the buffalo bottle opener and the coordinate pillows (see photo). Scarves and jewelry round out the everyday shopping list while frames and glassware are perfect for ‘room”s gift registry. There are even flasks for the jittery grooms who are about to take the plunge and groomsmen who are looking for a quick gift.
Much of the furniture that is found in the upstairs hotel rooms is available downstairs at ‘room2’. Talk about a sensational way to market products! The stylish looking retail showroom looks both classic and classy and adds a lot of pizzazz to the Hotel Lafayette. It also helps to market the hotel as a one-stop-shop for guests and wedding parties who have come to celebrate the restored grandeur of the building. ‘room2’ is another win for developer Rocco Termini who teamed up with the retail owners many moons ago when he first started creating his first loft environments in the city. You might say that the team has now come full circle, which sends out a message that there’s more to loft living than just living in a loft.
room2
391 Washington Street
Buffalo, NY
716.931.9362
11am-7pm M-Sat
11am-4pmSun