BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Elected officials and local businesses are collaborating to find ways to advance Buffalo's economy.
"For us, it's where we advance the policy positions that we think can grow the economy," Buffalo Niagara Partnership President and CEO Dottie Gallagher said. "We also talk about the unattended consequences of bad policy."
This year's Buffalo Niagara Partnership advocacy agenda includes:
- Fully funding the Regional Tech Hub program
- Protecting employers from frivolous pay frequency lawsuits
- Bridging the benefits cliff
- Redeveloping vacant spaces in Downtown Buffalo
"Downtown development is one of the key areas of our Advocacy Agenda," Gallagher added. "How we bring people back into Downtown, along with several other critical issues that are impacting not only Buffalo but across the country."
Downtown Buffalo has taken some hits over the past few weeks.
- The only grocery store in the central business district, Braymiller Market, shut down.
- WEDI’s Downtown Bazaar moved out of the Market Arcade Building on Main Street in the Theatre District, but there are new plans for the space.
- Then earlier this week Dinosaur Bar-B-Que announced it would close its location on Franklin Street and move to Hamburg.
We spoke with Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon about the recent business losses. You can watch our report below and read more here.
Businesses like Hearth + Press, a pizza restaurant with an Italian-Lebanese twist, feel the impact of this vacancy daily.
"As far as foot traffic around here, it's empty," Hearth + Press Server Shareen Abdallah said. "Lunch was always busy, dinner was always busy. After COVID, especially with them closing down the metro down here, and the alleyway closure, much of our business has gone down."
Despite these challenges, Abdallah said the restaurant stays afloat, all thanks to its strong clientele and theatergoers during Shea's Performing Arts Center's season.
"Shea's season is when we pick up during dinner time," said Abdallah. "Even if there is no Shea's, there's usually nobody here. The bar is empty, maybe we'll get five or six and that's usually it."
Abdallah believes Downtown Buffalo has potential.
"Downtown just needs to be revamped," said Abdallagh. "The Metro system could be better. A lot of things can change. I feel like Buffalo has a bright future. It just needs to unlock that key to do it."
Shea's impact on Downtown is tremendous. During its recent run of The Lion King, nearly 70,000 people visited the area.
