By I’Jaz Eberhardt and Dylan Sleight
Buffalo Review West Reporters
At a glance, one could understand why the
Elmwood Village is often hailed as one of Buffalo’s hippest districts: an
eclectic street lined with colorful storefronts, lively murals and A mix of visitors and
residents can be seen on any given day.
In fact, it may be hard to believe that just a
year ago, a visitor walking down Elmwood Avenue could see over 30 vacant
storefronts in the same areas that appear vital and prosperous today.
This was indeed the case according to Ashley
Smith, executive director of the Elmwood Village Association, who explained
that the 17 percent vacancy rate in 2018 was nearly double the acceptable rate
for a business district.
She praised the community’s efforts, however, to
aid in Elmwood’s resurgence, noting improved communications among association business
owners and residents.
“I think
we’re entering a new period for both this organization and the neighborhood
with a different level of engagement,” she said.
The community has worked to address this issue
within the past year by identifying several contributing factors to the
village’s turnover and vacancy rates. The decline of brick and mortar stores on Elmwood mirrored the
national scope of retail.
Data from Coresight
Research shows that 2019 store
closures are already predicted to exceed those of 2018. Within the past year,
the nation has seen the demise of popular retailers like Toys “R” Us, Payless
ShoeSource and Bon-Ton.
Online shopping has been significant in the
market shift. Ten percent more people are likely to prefer shopping online than
in-store for reasons such as special deals, product comparability and saving
time, according to GoodFirms
survey findings.
 |
Ashley Smith, on the cost of doing business on Elmwood Avenue:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKbW5PkQ_aw |
Smith explains that Elmwood business owners are
finding ways to adapt to the digital shift.
“We’re seeing a lot more of our boutiques making
sure they have online stores because even beyond that broader market, there are
folks in the neighborhood who are shopping online versus necessarily going into
the store,” she said.
An issue that has specifically impacted the
Elmwood Village, however, is the move of Women and Children’s Hospital from 219
Bryant St. in 2016.
“I think the businesses there have felt the
impact of Children’s Hospital closing,” said Buffalo Council Member Joel
Feroleto. “When the hospital was there, you had hundreds of employees there
that were in the area that would support businesses in the area.”
Another problem unique to Elmwood establishments,
Feroleto explained, was a lack of representation.
“At the time, the Elmwood Village Association
did not have any small business owners on their board of directors, so [the
association] decided to step up,” he said.
In addition to securing positions on the Elmwood
Village Association board, about 50 business owners formed their own alliance called
Elmwood Strip. The organization
puts faces and stories to the storefronts to familiarize visitors with business owners,
many of who are natives to the area, Smith noted.
Cindi Thomason, senior business advisor at the
SUNY Buffalo State Small Business Development Center, believes there could be
larger issues that are pushing the economic climate of the Elmwood Village to
its current predicament.
“A lot of it comes down to the property
development types that bought a lot of the property on Elmwood,” Thomason said.
“This is when it was getting pretty popular. It was really a lot more than a
lot of small businesses could afford.”
She attributed
rent spikes and seasonal decreases in foot traffic as threats to Elmwood
businesses.
Thomason cited dining as another
area of business that had been affected, but she insists that shops and
boutiques are still at the forefront of the larger issue.
“A lot of people think restaurants are the
hardest businesses, but I really think basic retail, right now, is the hardest
business,” Thomason said.
Feroleto noted
that the Elmwood Village Association has been working to identify the types of
businesses that would be supported in the area based on community need and
square footage, a process he describes as “proactive” instead of “reactive.” A
growing public art scene, funding through state grants and private investments,
and events organized by the Elmwood Strip are other factors he contributes to
Elmwood’s regeneration.
“I’m very happy
with what’s been happening on Elmwood,” he said. “There have been nine new
businesses that have opened or announced openings recently.”
With events like
the holiday tree lighting and a three-day Oktoberfest celebration
last year, Feroleto believes Elmwood’s businesses will continue to encourage
community involvement, which will, in turn, boost retail.
