Moving to Buffalo,NY (New York, Rochester: lease, house, neighborhoods)

[nat74]

Hello, moving from SJ,CA to Buffalo,NY. I want to open small business. A boutique, trendy clothe, shoes,skincare products,shoes,even a book section, and children section. I want to target mainly young women and moms. does anyone have any idea if something like this would work and where in the city? I know that Elmwood and Hertel are the best streets. My husband is originally from Buffalo so I know a little bit about buffalo.

[homeward bound]

I lived on both Elmwood and Hertel (and about a dozen other places around Buffalo). My wife is a chronic shopper, too. So I've got some modest credentials to give my two-cents here, though I've never opened a business. I'd think that the Elmwood area remains the place to be for this. Hertel seems more focused on restaurants, and isn't all that close to the old Main St. U.B. campus or Buffalo State. Gets into some semi-seedy neighborhoods too. Some place in Allentown MIGHT be okay, but then you're risking crime. Elmwood is trendy, fun, interesting, and much safer, mostly because it's a pretty busy place. Safety in numbers. And as a I recall, you've got at least ten blocks, on both sides of the street, to choose from/luck out on a store for lease. Nearer Buff State it's a lot of restaurants, bars, and music stores. Down further toward downtown, it's antique stores. Another possibility would be Main St. by the old U.B. campus. Might be attractive to people from Snyder and other near-in suburbs who don't want to drive down to Elmwood, and there's still a pretty big U.B. student contingent living around the old campus site. Would probably be much cheaper rents than the Elmwood area, too. Best of luck!

[CutiePie]

You should also consider Amherst/Williamsville/Clarence area--residents in those commuties have the higher per capita income--SERIOUS money...and that's where the chic boutiques are and the neighborhoods are very family-oriented---big population growth......Elmwood/Hertel tend to be 'funkier' and more youth- (college) oriented...in the southtowns: East Aurora and Orchard park are monied areas ..but population more spread out

[Samohtal]

I agree w/ CutiePie. I live in the Clarence area and that area is absolutely booming with upper-middle class and higher people. It has even spread to southeastern Niagara County in the town (not the city) of Lockport, Pendleton, and Wheatfield. Clarence and East Amherst are officially still Erie County - which may not be a good thing from a tax point of view - but that area is still among the best in the Buffalo metro area.

[iheart]

What about people in Buffalo in general? Are they friendly? what do they like compare to other cities in the state? just curious...

[I'minformed2]

Buffalo and Rochester (the two metro areas usually grouped together and refered to as "Western New York") are consistantly rated two of the friendliest and most affordable areas to live in the country. Rochester tends to have the better job opportunities and schols while Buffalo has a bit more "identity" (eventhough Rochester has plenty of identity too). Buffalo is kown as "The City of Good Neighbors". Just in case you're wondering, Western NY is a WORLD away from NYC/Long Island. Totaly different (and IMHO much better) lifestyle and culture. And they don't talk with the NY accent either!

[iheart]

Ah, thanks i'minformed. I was in downtown Buffalo recently and some of the people there that I've met were very friendly, with a bit of midwestern like.
Oh, NY accent....lol. I think most people referred to NY accent are actually Brooklyn accent, most people on LI don't talk like that though.

[MONTSHEP]

Originally Posted by nat74

Hello, moving from SJ,CA to Buffalo,NY. I want to open small business. A boutique, trendy clothe, shoes,skincare products,shoes,even a book section, and children section. I want to target mainly young women and moms. does anyone have any idea if something like this would work and where in the city? I know that Elmwood and Hertel are the best streets. My husband is originally from Buffalo so I know a little bit about buffalo.

My Husband and I are facing an extremely difficult decision re: Buffalo. He can work in a wonderful setting there, but to move our young Chiildren, to an area neither he, nor I would ever have dreamed of being in, is inconceivable. I am from Toronto. It seems that Buffalo posesses none of the higher caliber in the shopping, sophistication dept. etc and doesn't seem to aspire to it. Are there any hidden areas such as the Streets you mention, that I have missed?

[JWilliams]

Originally Posted by MONTSHEP

My Husband and I are facing an extremely difficult decision re: Buffalo. He can work in a wonderful setting there, but to move our young Chiildren, to an area neither he, nor I would ever have dreamed of being in, is inconceivable. I am from Toronto. It seems that Buffalo posesses none of the higher caliber in the shopping, sophistication dept. etc and doesn't seem to aspire to it. Are there any hidden areas such as the Streets you mention, that I have missed?

I can't speak to Buffalo much as a city but I'm an ex-Can who just moved to Rochester and have spent the last two weekends (and this coming one) in Canada, I would say don't worry about the shopping. You can get from Buffalo to Toronto in 90 minutes! The traffic is incomporable to the gridlock in Toronto and the schools will likely be better, too, at least if you pick a decent spot. In Buffalo you will be able to have a nice house with good schools and your husband will not spend long in traffic, and all that for an amount of money that would buy nothing more than a despicable shanty in Toronto.

One thing you may want to consider is that you will never appreciate much wealth in a house living in Buffalo, so if your intent is to be there for a while and move to Toronto in the future, the cost of living will quite possibly outpace you there, unless you save a good bit on the side while down in Buffalo. We looked at TO before moving to Rochester and decided that, though we make good money, we'd have been stuck with crap living conditions compared to what we can get in Western NY, and we were right.

[gfluneedit]

Originally Posted by nat74

Hello, moving from SJ,CA to Buffalo,NY. I want to open small business. A boutique, trendy clothe, shoes,skincare products,shoes,even a book section, and children section. I want to target mainly young women and moms. does anyone have any idea if something like this would work and where in the city? I know that Elmwood and Hertel are the best streets. My husband is originally from Buffalo so I know a little bit about buffalo.

I lived in Buffalo.

The suburbs are nice .

Stay out of the city.