BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Stop into Cluck Cluck Moo Moo, one of the newest restaurants in the Elmwood Village, and business is booming.
"It's met and exceeded expectations," Nick Kotrides, co-owner of Cluck Cluck Moo Moo tells 7 News. "They're coming for our smash burgers, they're coming for our chicken sandwiches. Business has been very good."
Kotrides is no stranger to the Elmwood Village. He's owned and operated a business in the residential and retail district for over 30 years. Remember the former Toro and Faherty's? He owned them as well.
His business partner Michael Bowen runs the long-standing Pasteurized Tees.
"Back in the late eighties, early nineties, there was a dip on Elmwood Avenue which gave people like me, that didn't have a lot of money to go into business, an opportunity to come in," said Kotrides.
Kotrides believes that opportunity exists once again with parts of the Elmwood Village clearly in transition.
"This is the perfect time," said Kotrides. "I think it's a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs or someone that has an idea to come in,"
7 News Anchor Jeff Russo walked down Elmwood Avenue from Lafayette Avenue to West Ferry Street and counted six noticeable vacancies right in the heart of the celebrated business district.
The businesses included Taste of Siam, Buffalo Fleece and Outerwear, Munchee House, Campus Wheelworks, and the former Fowlers, along with Cecilia's.
We wanted to see if the local business community was concerned with the growing list of vacancies so we spoke with several longtime business owners and stakeholders to check the pulse of the neighborhood.
"When I came in 1989 you really had one commercial district. Now you have Elmwood, Hertel, you have Canalside, you have the Cobblestone District and the waterfront. There is a lot going on. We are not just competing with other regions, we're competing with other commercial districts. It will take time.
I think it's a great time to be in the Elmwood Village. There's a little bit of turnover happening right now, but I don't see any of it for any negative reasons. Everything is an isolated case I think it's still really great and strong
I've been fortunate enough to work with some really good tenants and some really good landlords. This is a transition, but it's coming back. It's definitely coming back. There's too many great people that live here
