Allentown is home to a new café, called Allen St. Greenhouse Café. The operators are the father-daughter team of Chris and Kyah Wood. Chris told me that this has been a dream project of his for a few years, and that he jumped at the opportunity to do something with Kyah, who will eventually run the Allen Street café, as he plans to open additional locations.
Together, Chris and Kyah have built a multi-dimensional café that is unlike anything else in Buffalo, and perhaps even New York State.
“I knew that I wanted to open something at this location,” said Chris, who had been eyeing the high profile corner for a couple of years. “I asked myself, What does Allentown need? The answer was “A café that serves food… something that would stand the test of time. I also wanted the business to shine a light on this end of Allen Street, to help turn things around.”
As for the café itself, it’s located in one of the most impressive shopfronts imaginable. There’s a wall of windows, towering ceilings, and a second floor mezzanine. It’s a dream location for any operator.
Food offerings at the café include a variety of artisan pizzas, cooked up by Phil Caparaso who was the manager of Mister Pizza for 25 years.
“He’s a legend in the pizza game,” Chris mentioned. “Everyone knows him on the West Side.”
Along with the artisan pizzas, Phil is preparing Greenhouse salads, which are topped with microgreens grown right in the building.
“We’re using the microgreens for salads, pizzas, and other menu items,” said Chris. “At this point, we’re growing 350 flats a week. We’re building this in anticipation of servicing large-scale commercial businesses. At the moment, these businesses are looking to see if we can handle a certain capacity.”
Microgreen farming is one thing. Cannabis is another. Chris believes that Allen St. Greenhouse Café is the first café in New York State to successfully, and legally, give away cannabis to customers who have ordered certain menu items.
“We’re the first Amsterdam-style café,” Chris imparted. “We are giving away cannabis samples with purchases of a number of coffees, teas, and even hard candy. It all goes hand-in-hand with our wellness offerings. Whether it’s the microgreen farming, the herbal teas, protein shakes, or mud water, we’re here to make sure that our customers are getting top quality products that are part of a healthy living lifestyle. Whether it’s the healthiest wings in Buffalo, homemade chicken noodle soup, or a smoothie, we’ve got people covered.”
Next up, Chris plans on taking over the shopfront next door (formerly Melting Point). His intention is to open a bakery (pastries, breads, etc.) that services the café. He has already applied for a licence to legally bake and sell edibles, which will be another first for Buffalo.
“We’re doing all of this according to the books,” said Chris. “We’ve got to take advantage of it while we can. We’re doing this the right way, by abiding by New York State laws and regulations.”
Allen St. Greenhouse Café is definitely a game-changer for Allen Street, Allentown, and all of Buffalo. Chris is happy that he and Kyah waited until the time was right to introduce this new concept to Buffalo. As New York State continues to roll out its cannabis laws, the next logical step is to open cafés of this nature.
“We’ve introduced something to Buffalo that people want,” Chris added. “Allen Street needed a café, and people have been waiting for one that is representational of the times.”
Oh, and the cafés’ built-in take-out window at the counter will be perfect for servicing passersby on the sidewalk, or those who choose to sit down at the (coming soon) patio. The service window will accommodate those who are hankering for an ice cream, a coffee, and/or myriad other offerings.
On St. Paddy’s Day, be sure to stop into Allen St. Greenhouse Café for some delicious corned beef and cabbage. And while you’re there, take a look around, breathe in the aromas, and satiate your senses. After all, there’s plenty to dish out, and a lot more “toppings” to come.
Allen St. Greenhouse Café | 242 Allen Street, Buffalo NY 14201 | 716-331-3330 | Facebook