BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Take a walk around the Lovejoy District and you'll notice all those formerly boarded up buildings are now becoming scarce.
"So many women are coming up and doing so many positive things on just this strip alone," Vivian Robinson, owner of La Verdad Cafe said.
One big factor is women owned businesses. They are taking over Lovejoy Street. From new restaurants, to yoga studios, flower shops, and barber shops, they've got it all covered with more than a dozen new storefronts. There's a flower shop, yoga studio, museum and much more.
"This community is very supportive of each other. We support each other when we can," said Dr. Breann Wilson, a podiatrist whose office is on Lovejoy Street.
But these women are doing much more than supporting each other. They're trying to transform the community.
"They said [La Verdad Cafe] was a barber shop, and I guess it had a bad reputation. They went through whatever they had to go through, but I didn't want it to be a negative impact in the Lovejoy District. We said that let's make it into something positive, and that's what we did," said Robinson.
This group hopes to inspire young people as well, showing them what can happen if you put your mind to it.
"We are able to exemplify to the youth of this neighborhood, especially the young women, that your dreams are a possibility," said Connie Gloss, owner of Connie's Icecream.
"That's part of it too. To let young girls know that if they have a dream, if they want to be business owners they definitely can," said Dr. Wilson.
There's one common theme everyone has on the Lovejoy Strip - love.
"It's been amazing. I've loved it," said Dr. Wilson.
"I love what I'm doing in the Love Joy district," said Robinson.
"I love our community of people," said Gloss.
