I love seeing new businesses open up in unexpected places. Clothing boutique co-owner Lexie Furlong has planted her fashion flag on Elmwood Avenue, near the corner of Bidwell Parkway, in a residential/storefront setting that was once home to a hemp store.
I’m happy to see this storefront occupied once again, because as far as Elmwood goes, there are very few opportunities for small businesses to open, which means that residential conversions (especially clumped in a row) will be one of the only ways that Elmwood Avenue grows. “If you think about it,” Lexie said. “The rents are less expensive and the leases are shorter. Plus there is a lot of character that can be used to our advantage, such as hosting intimate shopping parties where clients can actually use the home amenities. We even have access to the porch where customers can hang out and watch the activity on Elmwood.”
Lexie recently moved back to Buffalo from NYC where she was an apparel buyer and stylist. Upon returning to Buffalo she jumped right back into the fashion arena by heading up Mercedes Benz Fashion Week locally. From there she teamed up with her mother in-law, Vicky Schaff, to create Blush – a retail boutique that centers around shopping for current fashions and hosting private parties.