It’s not often that I come across a retail shop that reminds me of my old retail days on Elmwood Avenue. But just the other day, I came across Finn and Buffy at The Market Arcade.
The expertly curated vintage menswear shop – “a time capsule of American history” – derived its name from two traditional names, Finnius and Elizabeth, that were commonly found among Ivy League students in the late 1950s.
Shop owner, Tom McNamara, has gone beyond the call of duty to curate a collection of garments and goods from the likes of illustrious clothing manufacturers such as Woolrich, Ralph Lauren, L.L.Bean, Polo, IZOD, and Pendleton. There is a rack of handsome Harris Tweed jackets, right next to a heavy stack of wide wale corduroy pants. Chances are, if you’re 50 years or older, you will recognize a lot of the merchandise, as I did.
Speaking to McNamara, it is apparent that Finn and Buffy is more of a lifestyle pursuit than a full fledge business… at the moment. While he maintains a full time job, apart from the shop, he spends a lot of his free time either researching or sourcing his goods. At this point in time, the shop is open limited days and hours, which is why The Market Arcade building is the perfect fit for his venture. His goal is to eventually have “the shop of his dreams” that will continue to grow and prosper as he ages. It might be a different sounding plan, but I feel that he’s actually onto something.
McNamara gained a real appreciation for “the practicality and style of the past” when he worked for a few months at O’Connell’s Clothing on Main Street in the University District. From there he became a stylist at J. Crew. As fast fashion became more commonplace, McNamara decided that he wanted to help buck the trend. Therefore, he began amassing coveted heritage pieces that are known to withstand the tests of time. The clothing that he admires was made for the working man, but eventually became synonymous with classic American fashion. McNamara even partially credits avant-garde fashionistas/os in Japan with keeping the prep, Ivy league looks alive, with some interesting twists of course.
The idea that people go out and shop for $25 jackets is mind boggling to McNamara. This type of clothing is cheap because it’s not meant to last. And if it looks cheap and feels cheap, and you have to buy a new jacket every few years, so why not invest in something high quality right off the bat? Even Woolrich coats pre-60s were made better than they are today. Not to say that Woolrich isn’t still fantastic. It’s just that the vintage Woolrich is truly exceptional. The same goes for a lot of American outdoor clothing companies that have been around for a hundred years or so. Back then, the clothing was made for sportsmen and adventurers. Now, it’s made for people like the idea of being a sportsman and/or adventurer.
Now that vintage fashion is becoming more and more mainstream, it’s fairly easy to find nice throwback threads. It’s much harder to find vintage shops that specialize in certains styles and eras. Walking into Finn and Buffy is akin to walking into an expertly curated museum of sorts.
While originally from Rochester, McNamara came to Buffalo to earn his fashion degree at Buffalo State. That fortuitous decision led to a chain reaction that ultimately prompted him to open this one-of-a-kind, classic, vintage shop. Between his impeccable sense of style, and his ability to fold a mean shirt, McNamara is an excellent example of one’s passions coming into play at the workplace. And when you love what you do, and you can carve out enough time in your life to mix business and pleasure, sometimes the results are stupendous. That happens to be the case with Finn and Buffy, thanks to McNamara’s passion for peddling the clothing that was worn by those that stood for the classic American dream.
Stop in for a shirt or a tie, and leave with a bottle of cologne or a pair of socks. From vintage postcards to the occasional collegiate blanket, there’s a lot to browse. Personally, I find this new shop absolutely fascinating. It’s a store that I never dreamed would pop up in downtown Buffalo. I’m beyond thrilled that it did!
Finn and Buffy | The Showroom at Market Arcade – 617 Main St Suite 106, Buffalo, NY 14203 | Open Friday 5-9pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm
