Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 20th 2007, 3:24pm By queenseyes

It was about a year ago when my brother called me to say that his favorite deli had just closed after being in business for forty years. He had been a big fan of Chef Deli on Elmwood at the corner of Anderson… a business that I may have stepped into once during my lifetime. He told me how they made the best sandwiches, and how he really liked the people that worked there. I think that the reason I never knew too much about the business was due to the tinted glass windows that always looked like something was being concealed. But my brother loved the place.

Just the other day he asked me what was happening with that location and I admitted that I had heard nothing. That’s why I decided to call the owner of the building, Yisroel Krinsky, who, it turned out, lives in NYC. Yisroel (Krinsky and Associates) told me that he had been looking for a tenant without much luck. I asked Yisroel how he happened upon the building (while living in NYC) and he shared that he owned a few properties in Buffalo. That struck my curiosity. It turns out that his private company began to invest in Buffalo around three years ago after conducting extensive research about what cities were on the ‘up and coming’ list. “We have nearly two million dollars invested in Buffalo right now,” he told me. “And we’re looking at another major deal in the near future if all goes well. We even put in a bid for The Statler Towers before Bashar Issa acquired it. I’m very serious about investing in Buffalo… and our specialty is in office and retail on a national level.”

We should have some developments on Yisroel’s opportunities shortly, but that still doesn’t help my brother with a tenant (deli) at Elmwood and Anderson. “The equipment’s all there and there’s parking in back, so a deli would be a very good fit for the 3200 sq’ space (may be subdivided to 1,600 square), but there are other possibilities as well. I’m looking for a good business that is the right fit, and am willing to offer a number of incentives to find one. And the tint on the windows is just a sticker and can come off easily.”

I always like to look at empty spaces on commercial streets and try to come up with the best retail ideas. Even though my brother would kill me if I suggested it, I would have to say that a mom ‘n pop hardware store would be a great fit. Either that or a stereo shop… hey, you never know.

Get connected with 555 Elmwood. Call:

Craig Klausen

Hunt Commercial Real Estate

(716) 854-5943