Recently, Ciminelli Real Estate announced that they are planning to redevelop a pair of mixed use blocks on Elmwood, just north of Bidwell Parkway. Reportedly, the new buildings could be as tall as 5 floors. Word is that the historic buildings on the land will be displaced by the development, but a portion of their historic facades will be restored and incorporated into the project. This news spurred the Buffalo First organization to circulate this petition. The petition is not directly opposed to the project, as much as against the possible negative outcome, namely loss of local businesses and unique local character. Here is the wording from the petition:
On October 23, 2015, Ciminelli Real Estate Corp. confirmed to several news sources that it has placed a series of buildings on and around Elmwood Avenue between Bidwell Parkway and Bird Avenue under contract. These buildings include 976, 982, 984, 986, 998, 1006, 1010, 1020, 1024, and 1028 Elmwood Avenue, and 583, 584, and 588 Potomac Avenue.
According to The Buffalo News, Ciminelli “intends to build two apartment buildings, probably four to five stories tall, with first-floor storefronts.” Dennis Penman, Ciminelli’s Executive Vice President, has stated that, “whatever we do will be consistent with [the] existing fabric of the neighborhood” and that the new development would preserve the “character” of the Elmwood Village.
However, the unique character and existing fabric of the Elmwood Village is directly threatened by this development:
1. Beyond aesthetic concerns, the unique character of the Elmwood Village is defined by the unique locally owned
businesses that make up the majority of Elmwood businesses.
2. The affected properties are home to 8 of these locally owned businesses.
3. These locally owned businesses would be displaced or forced to close due to this development.
4. Commercial rents in new developments are historically set much higher than the affordable rents locally owned businesses currently pay. Many locally owned businesses cannot afford higher rents, and chain stores take their place in new developments.
5. It is a well-documented fact that upwards of 4 times more capital is reinvested in the local economy through purchases at locally owned businesses rather than chains, and this has a direct effect on the quality of life in our communities.
We, the undersigned, support the diversity and unique character of the Elmwood Village as demonstrated through its locally owned businesses. We petition the Elmwood Village Association, the Buffalo Common Council, and other representatives of the public interest to stand with us, the local business owners, residents, and patrons of the Elmwood Village, against any development at the above mentioned properties that would have an adverse effect on locally owned businesses.
That said, the purpose of this post is related to, but is not about the petition and its goal. What I would like to discuss instead, is the Gap and specifically; did Elmwood ever have a Gap store? As is common when the subject of Elmwood and chain stores are mixed together the conversation veers toward the Gap; those who want a Gap, those who don’t, those who blame preservationists for preventing the Gap from opening on Elmwood, and on and on and on and on. With regard to the Buffalo First petition, a recent Facebook discussion had a new wrinkle in this subject. A commenter claimed that Elmwood DID have a Gap, some time back in the 1970s.
My response was, “No, there was never a Gap on Elmwood. You are thinking of Pantastic.”
Pantastic was a groovy jeans and teen fashion store at the corner of Elmwood and Bidwell. It was painted all yellow and was pretty much identical to the type of store that the Gap was at the time. There were a couple of Pantastic mall stores in addition to the Elmwood store. The commenter insisted that they remember a Gap store on the corner and found others that agreed with him. Still others insisted that the Gap was not at Bidwell, it was at Forest and Elmwood! For my part I remember a Gap in the Main Place Mall but have no memory of a Gap ever being on Elmwood.
So. who remembers? Was there ever a Gap on Elmwood and who has a picture to prove it?