BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — Last week alone, two popular businesses announced plans to exit Elmwood Village. It is clear that this famous district continues to evolve. Longtime staple facilities are leaving and new construction is gearing up for new additions. So what’s next for Elmwood Village?
Campus Wheel Works says it wants to focus on its Niagara Street location going forward, but Thin Man Brewery says its slow recovery from the pandemic forced it to exit. The owners said they will now focus on the brewery’s Chandler Street location.
The Thin Man building will join another empty store on the same block. The old Casa di Pizza has been completely renovated but is now idle.
7 News visited Elmwood Village to speak with businesses, property owners and residents to get their perspective on what’s happening in the neighborhood.
Alvin Marks – Store Manager – The Seller
Jay Fair
Alvin Marks is the manager of The Cellar, a popular urban streetwear store located at 448 Elmwood Avenue.
Cellar has called Elmwood Village home for nearly seven years, including three years at its current location.
“It’s time to level up and grow,” Marks said of The Cellar’s move to the West Utica block on Elmwood Avenue. We’ve taken our store to the next level.”
“This side of Elmwood definitely feels better. I believe we have ice cream and new hair.” A salon has also opened across the street. We’re definitely improving,” Marks said.
“For me, vacancies are really helpful. They get more people moving in. It helps us get more people onto the block,” Marks added.
Mark Gademski – Elmwood Property Owner
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“It’s always been a great business district,” Mark Gademski told 7 News. small business. “
Gademski has been an Elmwood Village property owner for over 40 years. His portfolio includes his eight stores, office space and apartments on the corner of Elmwood and Hodge. Gademski believes there is momentum in the neighborhood that suggests new investments in the area as well as his two new restaurants set to open on his property. Cluck Cluck Moo Moo and Taqueria El Dorado will open soon.
“These are new businesses, and I think they will do well,” Gademski said. “There are a lot of people here, all levels of socio-economic groups. ”
Michelle Renmo – Resident of Elmwood Village
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“The past few years have been a lot of ups and downs,” said Michelle Renmo, who has lived in Elmwood Village for the past 11 years. Look at it a little more. It looks like there is more development, but there is nothing in the development.
Michelle Renmo and daughter Sloane love living in Elmwood Village, but wish there were a few more options near Bryant Street.
“There will be a few more family restaurants. There are a lot of very cool, great breweries, but the family ones are a little better,” Renmo added.
Terese Deutschliner – President of the Elmwood Village Association – Owner of Thin Ice
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“I think we are on a really good path today,” Therese Deutschreiner, president of the Elmwood Village Association, told 7 News. “People like to say, ‘There’s always space in Elmwood,’ but they also say, ‘It snows every day in western New York,’ which is just not true.”
Deutschlander has owned Elmwood Thin Ice for 17 years. She said the loss of two local staples, Thinman and Campus Wheelworks, shows the evolution of the famous neighborhood and believes big things will happen to the area in the coming months. .
“We have evolved in a very nice way and we are now on a very strong footing,” Deutschlander said. “In a way, we have two businesses, two core businesses. Losing but gaining more businesses that will grow and thrive Elmwood Village is so strong that these businesses will open a second location and continue to grow was made.”
Real Estate Agent – Joe Jacobi
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Realtors told 7 News that the Buffalo market is hot. Journalist Leah Rand spoke with commercial and residential realtors. Donovan Real Estate’s Joe Jacobi says many of the vacancies he sees along Elmwood Avenue have already been talked about. He said he was negotiating a lease or waiting for a building permit application to go ahead.
“Generally, it will take about six months to complete the building,” Jacobi said. You’ll see a lot of salons set up: “There’s an ice cream shop next door, and the high-end steakhouses that come to this building are going to quit soon.” He said he is interested in a space at Thinman Brewery. According to him, landlords typically charge him $20 to $30 per square foot for a minimum five-year lease.
Real Estate Agent – Robert Blake
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Leah Rand also spoke with another real estate agent about a residential property in Elmwood Village.
He said it’s a popular place to live and prices reflect that demand. Robert Blake is an associate his broker at Hunt Real Estate. He said, “It’s hard to find a property under $1,000 these days. ” says.
Blake said he’s only seen an uptick in the Buffalo real estate market, saying, “I’ve seen a lot of talk about the market slowing down because interest rates went up a bit, but we’ve never felt it. I have never,” he explained. ”
Blake says there are many reasons people want to live and do business in Elmwood Village, including walkability, access to festivals, shops, restaurants, the art world and the general atmosphere.
