Earlier today, the West Side Bazaar, operated by the Westminster Economic Development Initiative (WEDI) was the site of an official ribbon cutting. While the Bazaar will not be open for two more weeks, a number of parties got a chance to explore the building, which was a refreshing adaptive reuse project.
The new Bazaar – located at 1432 Niagara Street – is everything that people dreamed that it would be, thanks to $11.5 million that was raised via a capital campaign project. At this point there are, incredibly, 100 individuals on the waiting list to enter into an entrepreneurial relationship with the Bazaar, which helps to paint a picture of the wants and needs of traditionally disenfranchised WNY populations that include women, minorities, refugees, and immigrants.
The renovation of a historic 16,000 square foot vacant building provides space for 24 restaurants, retail and professional services businesses.
The new Niagara Street Bazaar offers four times the space of its Grant Street counterpart. At 16,000 SF, the building will soon be home to 18 new businesses, including:
8 Restaurants
- Egyptian Bites
- William’s Kitchen Korean Comfort Food
- Phyu Thein (Malaysian)
- Ramree Corporation (Burmese)
- Millions Tin (Sushi)
- Orso Nero Pizza (Italian)
- Malkia and Co. (Central African & Congolese)
- Bamboo Ridge (Vietnamese)
4 Food Retail Entrepreneurs
- Authentic Turkish Café
- Manchester Place Baking Co. (pies, brownies, cookies, cakes)
- Citygate Market (African food products)
- Bubble Tea & Smoothie Bar
Other Occupants Include:
- Honey Bee’s Driving School
- 1 vendor booth for pop-ups
- 1 Commissary kitchen for independent chefs
- Read It and Eat
- Mental health counselors Elisabeth Burn LMHC & Danielle Prester LMHC
This unique business incubator has become an international marketplace experience that is second to none in Buffalo. This transformative project has withstood a pandemic, a break-in, and a fire. All of these misfortunes have strengthened the community’s resolve to make the market experience bigger and better than ever imaginable, complete with ghost kitchen opportunities, children’s classroom experiences, and a full-service bar and event space. The bar was added on (as an afterthought) after witnessing the success of its downtown counterpart – The Downtown Bazaar, which retains three relatively new businesses, adding to the overall success story of the initiative.
West Side Bazaar’s new location is expected to incubate approximately 20 small businesses initially, with room to house more in years to come.
“The West Side Bazaar has long been a testament to the diversity of this community and the wide variety of foods, cultures, and products that make Buffalo so special,” Governor Hochul said. “With this new location in a beautifully renovated historic building, we are creating opportunities for even more budding entrepreneurs to turn the businesses of their dreams into a reality, and I look forward to visiting and meeting the vendors who are helping to transform Niagara Street into a vibrant commercial district.”
WEDI Executive Director Carolynn Welch said, “Providing this new, five times larger space where more entrepreneurs can launch and build economic security for their families is the fulfillment of WEDI’s mission to eliminate barriers to systemic economic equity to create a Western New York where all may thrive. The board, campaign steering committee and its leadership and the WEDI staff are grateful for the tremendous show of support for our organization and our business incubators. We are grateful for the banking and financial institutions, foundations and philanthropic organizations both private and nonprofit, federal, state, and county government, and community-minded individuals who pledged and donated to the West Side Bazaar capital campaign.”
To date, the West Side Bazaar has incubated more than 45 small businesses.
Hayes Construction led the renovation, and CJS Architects designed the Bazaar’s new home, which has a fairly open floor plan, with plenty of natural light. It is interesting to note that at one point in time, the circa 1910 building was used by bootleggers during prohibition. There is an enormous “soon-to-be-functioning” weighing station scale located on the second floor that is a remnant from the building’s era as a gin mill. Other architectural and design items of interest include a two-story sky-lit atrium and a reclaimed gym floor wood center staircase.
Empire State Development (ESD) President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “ESD recognizes the vital importance of the West Side Bazaar, which is attracting visitors, supporting the community and enhancing urban opportunities for immigrants and refugees who are excited to grow their businesses. We thank Governor Hochul and our many partners for helping this long-awaited project cross the finish line.”
WEDI’s Economic Feasibility Study for the new bazaar estimates an economic impact of approximately $34 million over the next five years, and may have as many as 250,000 visitors annually.
“The West Side Bazaar has long been a shining example of the many great contributions of our refugee neighbors here in Western New York,” noted State Senator Sean Ryan. “It has been a thrill to see the transformation of Niagara Street in recent years, and the Bazaar’s new location is going to quickly become part of the fabric of this revitalized corridor. I have no doubt the new location will be as beloved by the community as the former Grant Street location. I encourage everyone to visit the new West Side Bazaar and support these incredible entrepreneurs.”
Key funding measures for this project include:
An anchor gift of $1.5 million from KeyBank in Partnership with the First Niagara Foundation, $1 million from the Ralph J. Wilson Jr. Foundation, $950,000 secured by Congressman Brian Higgins from the U.S. Small Business Administration, and $925,000 from the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning. The John R. Oishei Foundation has awarded the project $500,000; M&T Charitable Foundation has pledged $350,000 and Bank of America has given $250,000. Empire State Development through the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council awarded capital grant funding totaling $539,187. The Bazaar also received a Round 5 Better Buffalo Fund Buffalo Main Streets Initiative award of $500,000 administered by NYS Homes and Community Renewal. Many foundations and corporations have offered support including the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, the Peter C. Cornell Foundation, the James H. Cummings Foundation, the Junior League of Buffalo, the Marks Family Foundation, the Stenclik Foundation, National Grid, and the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation. Individual donations total a remarkable $1.2 million.
Monarch Private Capital, a Community Development Entity (CDE), provided tax credit equity from both Historic Tax Credits and a New Markets Tax Credit allocation provided by National Trust Community Investment Corporation, also a CDE.
“Erie County is proud to support WEDI in their new and substantially larger home on Niagara Street,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “WEDI has played a large role in reinvigorating neighborhoods and bringing people together and has had a significant economic impact as they’ve grown. This exciting new chapter paves the way for more growth, new opportunities for entrepreneurs, and continued success.”
The Bazaar will open to the public with grand opening celebration from October 31 to November 4. At that time, it will have a capacity to serve and seat upwards of 200 people.
For more information about the West Side Bazaar and WEDI, click here.