Café d’ Luna (Luna’s) has opened at 220 Grant Street, located where Sweet_ness 7 (S7) originally set up shop. The owners of Luna’s – Matthew Zayas and Chiara Moslow – also established Konbini (Vintage Coffee Ramen) at 500 Washington Street, which means that this is not their first rodeo… and that’s a good thing.
I initially alluded to the pending arrival of Luna’s in June, when Indigo Chapel opened its doors next door. Now that Luna’s has added its own version of life to the corner, with a bent on ramen noodle dishes and coffee selections, the doors are wide open for a rebirth of “the block,” similar to what entrepreneur Prish Moran always envisioned with S7.
Thankfully Black Dog NY LLC made a significant purchase of Moran’s properties, which include the former tabernacle church (Indigo Chapel), the café corner (Luna’s), and a set of other storefronts that will hopefully all be revitalized in the near future. The most important aspect of this is that the anchor tenants are now in place, which will allow the rest of the pieces to fall into place.
Walking into Luna’s on a Tuesday afternoon, I was greeted to the sounds of Dos Amantes (Tantos) Deseos de Ella by Danny Rivera. The romantic Latin music, heavy on balada, set the vibes for my midday black coffee in a house mug. I can assure you that this would be “Prish-approved.” In fact, for the first time I felt similar to how I felt back in the day when this very special corner came to life in December of 2008. And that makes me happy.
Even the “starter menu” has a breakfast flair that is reminiscent of the origins of S7. Not that that is the eventual direction that Luna is going, but it’s a safe and effective way to open the doors, as they begin to roll out their own homegrown formula. Currently, customers can stop in for an avocado toast, harina de maíz (sweet cornmeal porridge, infused with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla), classic, sweet or savory pancake stack, bacon, eggs, etc.
For me, stepping into Luna was like stepping back in time. A lot of fond memories came rushing back, and I found myself recalling all of the dreams for Grant Street, when the street was just starting to make a comeback. It’s been almost two decades since that time, which I find absolutely surreal.
As for Grant Street, there have definitely been some great success stories over the years, although there is still plenty of “low hanging fruit” that needs to be addressed. Anyone that understands urbanism to any degree knows that nothing happens without an investment catalyst or two. Right off the bat, I’m thinking about development projects by Chris and Matthew Siano of HES Properties, along with the small(er) business infusements of Black Dots Records, The Gypsy Parlor, Shakti Yoga, Rust Belt Books, Westside Stories, and Global Villages. The West Side Bazaar (now on Niagara Street) certainly made an impact at one point, as did Gather & Game (now on Amherst Street). Lest we forget about Guercio’s, which will be making a comeback under new ownership, PFC’s International Farmers Market, Good Neighbors, and Fistful of Vintage.
Now, we should take a closer look at West Ferry, which intersects Grant Street. It’s almost as if West Ferry is constantly dragging Grant Street down. But similar to Grant Street, all it would take to get West Ferry back on its feet would be a significant investment by a single visionary developer-entrepreneur.
In the meantime, kudos to Luna’s and friends for believing in Grant Street and the West Side of Buffalo. It will be interesting to see how the café morphs in weeks to come. Stop in for their coffee that is sourced directly from the Dominican Republic and roasted here in Buffalo. Or for a matcha latte, a morir soñando (orange juice and milk, shaken with sugar and vanilla over ice), or a simple lemonade. Oh, and it won’t be long before we will be seeing some ramen from Konbini showing up on the menu.
Life is good (again) at the corner or Grant and Lafayette.
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