I was just wondering if a list of Buffalo based, or formerly Buffalo based businesses/companies was out there somewhere. They can be regional....For example, Fisher Price.


I figured if it existed...someone on here would know where to find it.

Thanks!

Ok...so nobody want's to answer. Here is why I bring it up:

The galleria mall has pretty much all the major tenants, and attracts most of the shoppers coming into the area. Elmwood seems to have a grip on all of the 'little shops' and home-brewed stuff. Where does this leave main street?

Why not create a 'Buffalo based major Corporation outlet mall' on that space. Imagine, for example, an interactive Fisher Price Store downtown. Good signage, something for the kids to do....revive the Toy Museum. That store could anchor a few tenants related to kids.....on the same block you put Buffalo Games, maybe a local kids clothing manufacturer/retailer (if one exists) or at that point a few 'not in Galleria Mall' tenants show up.

My problem is, I don't know all the companies which have Buffalo roots and reasonable drawing power. I picked local companies since THEY have a reason to be downtown when nobody else will come. I doubt we can attract a Lego store....although I would LOVE to try!

Start with stores that attract families, and you might be surprised how many come out of the woodwork to walk downtown. My kids have NOTHING to do down there after a Sabres game.....

Imagine this: Take some of those art groups bitching about funding loss and tell them to open some kind of Disney-esqe thing on Canalside....a family walking out of HSBC can be greeted by a 'saloon girl' encouraging them to go down to canalside and see the show at 'billy's tavern' or some crap....

Canalside should be crawling with crap like that....it would be freaking hilarious! I'd go down there just to SEE the 'drunk singers' walking the streets.....make it family friendly and campy....fuck historical relevance. Nobody cares. You'll learn more by making it fun anyways....didn't you ever go to school?

Then, you push shoppers up Main Street to shops they CANT GET at the Galleria....boom synergy. The galleria stays open, there is some fun and entertainment at the 'saloons' on canalside and you have unique shopping on mainstreet.

There...no more bitching from 19 year olds who visit for hockey tournaments...there will be a boatload of shops next to HSBC for eating and entertainment like people who visit want and a shopping strip right on main. Once people become familiar with that, they will not mind finding Elmwood, the Galleria or whatever and the cities image can change.

End rant....now, please comment on why this can't work or why we are too stupid to implement it. Becasue NOBODY is going to bother doing it, since this is Buffalo we are talking about and things that might actually work don't ever happen around here.

Wells Fargo started in Buffalo. Same with Curtis Wright Aircraft (I believe it was the forerunner to one of the Biggies - Boeing or McDonnel Douglas). National Gypsum is another. Pratt/Lambert Paints. American Olean Tile.

Carborundum, Quaker Oats, Hooker Chemicals.

I could name more, but these are just off the top of my head.

Wells Fargo started in Buffalo.

Very interesting, didn't know that.

Sad though that Wells Fargo didn't stay in Buffalo