Way Up There: Mark Croce
When he’s not looking for new ways to improve his downtown businesses, Mark Croce aims for the sky—literally. The Buffalo businessman spends a lot of time in the air, flying his airplane all over the east coast. When he’s not flying his plane, he gives his helicopter some attention.
Cape Cod, Nashville, Atlanta, and New York City are some of his top destinations. "New York City," Croce says, "is my favorite place to visit. I love the action, diversity, variety, and vibrancy there." In addition to relaxing in NYC he also shops for new concepts and trends in restaurants including architecture and design, as well as new food and beverage ideas that he can bring back to Buffalo to thrill his clientele at his Franklin Street bar and restaurant holdings, which include the Buffalo Chophouse & The Franklin Room, D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub, Laughlin’s, SkyBar and the Buckin' Buffalo Saloon.
One would think Croce wouldn't have time to travel, but he loves flying, racking up about 300 flight hours a year. It’s his escape and hobby all wrapped into one. Although he usually splits his time between fixed wing and rotary wing craft his volume of travel activity lately has warranted the use of the plane over the helicopter. Croce, a longtime city resident, recently celebrated a first anniversary with wife Jessica, whom he married in July of 2007. In addition to bars and restaurants, Croce also owns Buffalo Development Corporation, which holds a lot of real property in the city. He has plans to develop some of his city properties into unique projects, and hopes to eventually complete his dream project—a mid to high-rise building.
"It’s all about timing and financing," states Croce, referring to city projects. And he’s not beyond working with other developers. "I've had conversations with Uniland and Ciminelli in the past, and it would have to be the right project in the right location,” he explains.
Although his spare time is very rare these days, between work and home life Croce manages to fill a role as Vice President of the Buffalo Police Foundation. The Foundation helps fund projects that support downtown safety and security. He cites work the Foundation did in helping to clean up Pearl Street during a particularly troubling spate of criminal activity. Recognizing the need to make people comfortable in order to keep commerce high, Croce says, “One of the things that helps business downtown is for people to feel safe and secure.”
Though busy, Croce still manages to schedule 3 days a week at the gym. He spends an hour on those days with his Personal Trainer, Dan Sheff of Cosmic Fitness at Virginia and Washington Streets, in his effort to stay fit. “It’s not easy when you’re in your upper 40s,” Croce says.
Croce eats out almost every night of the week. He most often heads to places he doesn’t own so that he can relax a bit. He states that it's “easier" to eat out so he doesn’t seem critical of his own restaurants and staff, and says, “I can’t relax in my places because I’m always looking for ways to improve things."
Once and a while you’ll see him out having a drink, though usually he’s checking out what the other bars are up to. “It’s important for me to know what the trends are and what other people are doing and what seems to work and not work,” Croce said. His SkyBar atop D'Arcy McGee's Irish Pub and the Buckin' Buffalo Saloon are both leaders in their segments, but he’s always scouting for new bar concepts for when things get stale.
Because of his proximity, it would seem that Croce might have an opinion regarding cars returning to the 700 block of Main Street, but Croce has a wait and see attitude on that too, saying, “The jury is still out on that one. It took a lot of money to build, and it’ll take a lot more to bring cars back.”
Croce feels that bringing traffic back has some conceptual possibilities, but he doesn’t think it will solve the retail problems on Main Street. The man who has taken large strides in his own life, and regularly has an aerial view of the city and its developments, says, “It’s just one small step, hopefully in the right direction."
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marks
Did someone at BRO really greenlight this post? Ouch.
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onestarmartin
A] Whop Dee Doo B] Why are you repeating posts? This one and the one on Carl are from a month ago. And I might add dead boring the first time around.
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ECB
Martin- These articles are recycled from the magazine and have not appeared online before this. Not everyone who follows BRO, particularly out-of-towners, are able to get the magazine. We typically post the current month's stories online for that reason.
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mbhxam
Donald, what a cheap way to advertise for the personal trainer (full name, name and location of business), however, from looking at Croce, I think the personal trainer won't be picking up any new business from this posting...I can look like that by sitting on my butt eating chips and pizza...
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onestarmartin
ahhh, thought i saw it before....
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scottnorwood
hence the name..... 1 star. Nice work.
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onestarmartin
still a sad editorial
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marks
+1 to mbhxam's comment
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Quijibo
Flying 8,000 feet above the city is a great way to avoid seeing the poverty that Mr. Croce has helped to create. Instead of wasting fuel and damaging the ecology, he might instead dedicate some of those resources to helping the poor and disassociated members of our society. Mr. Croce would rather hoard his money and spend it on extravagent luxuries like private helicopters and planes, while the people that he kicked out of his buildings struggle and starve.
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rb66
Though busy, Croce still manages to schedule 3 days a week at the gym. He spends an hour on those days with his Personal Trainer, Dan Sheff of Cosmic Fitness at Virginia and Washington Streets, in his effort to stay fit. “It’s not easy when you’re in your upper 40s,” Croce says.
Come on Mark, don't blame your age. You can have everything you always wanted, but if you don't have your health, you have nothing. Don't stop going to the gym. Go more often. You're a Buffalonian that we want around for many years to come. Pick up the intensity, Dan Sheff!
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SteveP
Yes let's redistribute wealth that Croce earned. Maybe you can generate ideas and come up with capital to make it work so that you can choose to dish out cash where it's needed. How can you fault the guy for enjoying his life after he's worked hard to get where he is.
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bboozehound
I have had three of the worst dining experiences of my life in Croce owned establishments: twice at Laughlins and once at Duo. Now, the rehab effort he has put into both of these buildings is amazing. Laughlins is one of my favorite places in the city because he has done such a brilliant job with the interior. The food though...I mean its just terrible. You would think that if the guy eats out that much he'd know how bad the food in his own places is! Please Mark, these two building are wonderful...FIX THE FOOD!!!!!!!
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flyguy
Wow so many critics in the room. Is it just me or are the posts getting increasingly more negative again. My god people if you dont like the article then move on. Last I checked you still dont have to pay to read and if its really that painful then dont. I'm interested to know how Mark Croce helped create poverty? Really? Please tell?
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BuffaloBloviator
Can anyone think of a Mark Croce business that wasn't an abandoned eye-sore before he bought it? And come to think of it, I am not aware that he has demolished any buildings.
I am having trouble getting onboard the skepticism train that I see here today.
I remember when the block of Franklin Street between Chip. and Tupper was a disaster. His first project was the abandoned Warner film archieve building. The Brownstone (now Duo) was a boarded up crack house.
I don't remember what the Buck'n Buffalo was before Croce opened his first club there but the Laughlins corner at Tupper didn't look too good back then. Now it looks great and alive.
Next time I see Mark Croce I'm gonna buy him a shot of Avgas.
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rb66
Quijibo: "Flying 8,000 feet above the city is a great way to avoid seeing the poverty that Mr. Croce has helped to create. Instead of wasting fuel and damaging the ecology, he might instead dedicate some of those resources to helping the poor and disassociated members of our society. Mr. Croce would rather hoard his money and spend it on extravagent luxuries like private helicopters and planes, while the people that he kicked out of his buildings struggle and starve."
Seriously? Is this about spreading the wealth? Please spare me the Obama BS! Mark Croce worked hard for what he has. Is he suppose to give what he earned to the lazy? Hoards his money? How do you know what Mr. Croce does with charities?
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Assaroni
Gotta love the welfare mindset here in Buffalo...its the only city where the artists and Gays are poor
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rb66
bboozehound,
I have always had great food at Laughlin's.
My favorites are the grilled tenderloin sandwich (melts in your mouth) and the roast beef.
The mixed green side salad is a true mixed green salad, not the iceberg crap you get at most other places.
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BackInBuffalo
yeah, smart. let's all berate the guy who's worked hard to make a pile of cash. jealous much?
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Bufago
croce works out at Personal Best, you fuc*&^g dolts!
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Prodigal-Son
The fact that they could stand in the middle of Franklin Street, in broad daylight, and take that picture, WITH NO TRAFFIC, says all you need to know about how far downtown needs to come.
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buffawakening
to all those trying to defend this man on spending his own money on what he wants... how dare you? you mean to tell me that just because you work hard your whole life to be sucessful you can do whatever you want with your money? no way. this is america. more specifically, democratic stronghold WNY. the government should be taking away his hard earned cash and giving it to people who will spend the money on expensive things themselves like big screen TVs and crack cocaine. wait...
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Siafu
Croce needs to park his plane and mothball his helicopter and spend his hard earned money feeding the spawn of the 54.1% of the unemployed black males in the city. How dare he enjoy the fruits of his labors while the rest of us are rolling dirty on pitted 22's and last year's Jordans. I mean c'mon, those of us who just want to suckle at the teat of Albany and smoke trees 24/7 need a break. He has what he wants, why can't we have what we want? I trust that Barack Hussein Obama will separate that fool from his money and spread a little of that wealth around so that those of us who choose to do nothing can get a taste of the life that those who work hard enjoy. Vote Obama / Biden 2008! Vote early, Vote often! ACORN.
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Dangelo23
is'nt this guy right up there with Paladino? Invests in a property only to tear something down for parking. Owns two large buildings on Huron Street with the promise (going on what, like 10 years now) and we are still waiting for this Boutique hotel plan to pan out? And what is with his perverted attitude towards his female employees? Yeah, no big secret there.
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onestarmartin
Hey, I respect anyone who made something of himself. [He also does not own DUO]. I just found the post/story rather dull and have no idea what it has to do with the normal Buffalo Rising posts. Who cares if he goes to the gym, last time BRO talked this way about a person it was Issa buying his 45 foot boat [and we all know the end to that story]. I'm really not interested in someones plane's. Rather read about what is happening in Buffalo daily that will make it a better city. Maybe the story shoud of focused on what he is planning on doing with all the property he is snapping up, can't be more restaurants as we have enough for now with a dwindling population.
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buffawakening
"vote early, vote often ACORN"
hahaha i love it. :)
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Dangelo23
[deleted-violent]
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Dakovich
Surprised no one mentioned the fact that the aircraft Croce co-owns is used heavily to support Angel Flight. Angel Flight is a volunteer group of pilots and aircraft owners that provid travel, free of charge, to needy families and patients in order for them to receive the life saving medical care they need. So yes, maybe it is a very expensive luxury item. And yes, maybe to some of you it may seem a huge waste of money. But I'd bet there are a lot of very appreciative families that see things a bit differently.
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EricOak
This has to rank as one of the stupidest set of posts I've read here.
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HelenGood
^ EricOak^ Posts or Comments? The post is good, the guy is interesting. I think the negative comments are embarrassing.
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impressingagent
man with a name like scott norwood.. just go throw some kittens in the bathtub or something.
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Dangelo23
Man, what a slow week at Buffalo Rising, first Paladino, now Croce,...who's next, Joel Giambra? LOL
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Assaroni
Wheres the article on Bill Zimmerman???
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carl
Some times I wonder if buffalo rising has anything left to write about?
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CRobs
Perhaps Croce should spend less time posing in the middle of Franklin (and writing his own ridiculous parking tickets) and more time updating his bars. And by that I mean PLASMAS in Darcy McGees. I got stuck watching the hockey game there last night on complete piece of garbage 20-inch fuzz boxes. I mean come on...Laughlins has flat screens in the bathroom! If you can get it right at one place, why not keep your success a constent?
Just an annoyed observation...
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whynot
Assaroni asked: "Wheres the article on Bill Zimmerman??? "
It was posted, then edited, then edited again, then changed, then edited again... you might have thought you saw it, but the name and content were changed so many times that it became an article about fake sword fighting.
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