BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Main Street in Buffalo is continuing its own renaissance thanks in large part to the restoration efforts to traffic from Scott Street to Goodell Street.
Still, work is not yet done, though the City of Buffalo is currently in the midst of restoring traffic to Lower Main Street from Scott Street at Canalside to Tupper Street. Two-way traffic has already returned to the 500, 600, and 700 blocks of Main Street in multi-year efforts beginning back in 2009. The current project began last August and is expected to wrap up sometime next year.
A midday walk along Main Street near the theatre district presents a complete new scene than what you would have experienced a decade ago when there was no traffic in the corridor. The City of Buffalo years ago thought that a pedestrian mall and the metro rail would have spurred retail development in the area but, in actually, ruined the retail market.
Today, Main Street businesses are able to thrive.
One of those businesses that have succeeded in Main Street include Buffalo Barkery, a locally owned and operated pet supply store that emphasizes homemade pet products.
"When we were here for the (Queen City Pop Up) in 2014, during that two-month span is when Main Street was opened for traffic," O'Connor said. "That was a huge change. Sinatra had just bought the building and they had done a bunch of renovations for it. They re-painted the whole inner space and brought in a lot of retail. We've seen a massive change in the number of people coming in and the kind of people coming in."
O'Connor said some people used to only come to Main Street during their lunch breaks but she's now seeing people who are coming to Main Street because it's a retail destination.
Still, there are some ways they believe it can be improved. Lamparelli suggested more retail on Main Street and is encouraged with the idea of a grocery store coming to downtown Buffalo at 201 Ellicott.
"I would love to see some of the spaces that still aren't activated to their fullest see new life in there like the Main Place Mall," O'Connor said. "I think that's a huge missed opportunity where we could have room for more retail, even if it's more mall-focused retail. Not necessarily small business but having some mainstream stuff in a neighborhood like Main Street could do really well here."
The City of Buffalo is still planning to add more retail to Main Street. On Thursday, they announced the latest edition of the "Queen City Pop-Up" a business incubation program which allows small business to establish a retail location, rent-free, to get a head start. Both Buffalo Barkery and Rust Belt Love were participants in the inaugural program. This year's participants are Bflo Boho, which sells glass jewelry, Curtis Chameleon Books, a children's superhero-themed book store, MMW Popcorn Bar, a specialty gourmet popcorn shop, and Willow's Breeze, which sells organic skin care products.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said that 37 companies have "graduated" from the Queen City Pop Up program since 2014.
In addition to returning cars to Main Street and an increase in retail, Brandye Merriweather, the Vice President of Downtown Development for the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation said the beautification of sidewalks along Main Street have also contributed to its renaissance.
"I'd like to see more general merchandise," Merriweather said. "One of the things we're really focused on...is really growing our residential base downtown and creating a neighborhood and creating a downtown that's not just buildings and the daily 9-to-5 office grind. What kind of elements can we bring to make downtown feel more livable and like a neighborhood? Because that's really the grand vision for what we're doing and I think Main Street is just the beginning of that."
Merriweather said small businesses are the backbone of the communities but acknowledged that large businesses can have a place downtown.
