Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 30th 2006, 7:57am By queenseyes

In the last few months we have been keeping a much closer eye on Amherst Street between Grant and Elmwood. This summer we attended festivals, visited new shops, found a few dining haunts, listened to great local bands, bought some sausages, saw exotic pets, discovered a lighthouse and popped our heads into a gallery or two. Amherst Street is apparently alive and well these days, so I was excited to hear that a friend of ours, Sue Cholewa, just landed a building on the street. She purchased Howie's Appliance located at 464 Amherst, a building that started of as a gentlemen's clothier back in 1917.

I think that one of the best things about Amherst Street is the old world flavor that permeates it. Many of the storefronts look the same today as they did a century ago. The store that Sue picked up even has the original hanging light fixtures. "It's like walking into the past," she explains. "I even scored an antique display unit that the original owner traded for a couple of suits. And the street rocks... listen to the church bells, they sound beautiful. I've done a lot of traveling and this store reminds me of something I would see in Paris or Prague. I have had so many friends open up stores in Buffalo these past few years and wanted to be a part of the city's renaissance. I feel that Amherst Street is awakening from a deep slumber and I can't wait to see what's in store for this neighborhood in coming years."

Sue is a French teacher here in Buffalo, but more than that she is a city evangelist. She has picked up a couple other properties in recent months and feels that 'now' is the time to invest here. "My grandfather owned a market along the Erie Canal. Here's a photo of him in a storefront that, for all intents and purposes, could be this one. I kinda feel like I'm following a tradition in our family."

As we spoke there was a knock on the door. The knock belonged to another Sue, owner of ShoeFly and Clutch on Elmwood Avenue, who was just stopping in to wish congratulations on the new purchase. Moments later Mark Kubiniec, owner of Joe's Service Center (corner of Amherst and Elmwood) arrived with a Grant-Ferry Association t-shirt in his hand. "Here ya go," he said. "Welcome to the neighborhood" And if that wasn't enough, Doreen Deboth, owner of Artsphere Studio and Gallery (located next door) walked into the shop to pay a visit to her new neighbor. It,Aeos that kind of neighborhood ,Aei tight-knit and friendly. The space that Sue has acquired is quite something. The original wainscoting is intact and the painted tin ceilings look great. The wood floor looks like it is brand new and the front display cases give off a look of antiquated beauty. If you peer through the window displays you can make out the Richardson Towers in the background and the Buffalo State College dormitories in the foreground. Across the street sits a shop called Early Christmas that serves a mean pierogi and broadcasts a digital clock on its facade that continually counts down the seconds until December 25th. The rest of the street is lined with old firehouses, churches and bars... it's a laid back part of town where many people opt to walk rather than drive. I asked Sue what she had in store for her new shop and she answered, "I'll be looking for some ideas other than the ones I'm already pondering. I like the idea of having a coffee shop here... or a creperie with crepes named 'Crepes of Wrath' and 'Crepe Expectations'... or a teashop, or a fondue restaurant with a gallery. Maybe a Japanese teashop with pillows and slippers? The space is 26'x26'... it,Aeos big enough to accommodate a good-sized business. I want to bring something to Amherst Street that doesn't exist yet. There's a lot of history here. Did you know that the street was called Ferry back in the day? I want to learn more about the area and I want to rent to a good tenant who appreciates the space. We'll see what happens."

If you know of someone who may be looking for a space like this one, please send Sue an email. If you think that you might have an idea for something that might fit in the neighborhood, leave a comment. If you have an interesting story about the neighborhood, please share it. We'll keep you posted when Sue makes a final decision.