Author Archives: Charlie Fashana

Small Business Saturday

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It’s that time of year again, when shopping becomes the lone, daunting task on everyone’s mind. The time when people voluntarily skip Thanksgiving dessert and desert their loved ones to stand in long, possibly cold, outdoor lines with crowds of sleep deprived people who are all unhappy about shopping at a time you’re not supposed to shop.

Sounds like a blast. (heavy sarcasm)

Folks, your shopping experience can be so much more rewarding, for you and your local community!

Enter Small Business Saturday. It’s a national campaign that draws a contrast to big-box “Black Friday” and is based simply on shopping local. Last year I vowed to do my part in Buffalo and had a great day split between the shops in the Elmwood Village and on Hertel Avenue.

Small Business Saturday

Blue Monk Christmas AngelAs I walked from store to store, I was energized by the hustle and bustle taking place miles away from the malls. I was greeted by friendly and appreciative shop owners and I found truly unique gifts. It felt great to be supporting the folks that really are the lifeblood of our community (and that wasn’t just the “Christmas Angel” beer I had with lunch at Blue Monk talking).

So this year, use the Black Friday ads to stoke the fire beneath your roasting chestnuts, relax and rest up for Small Business Saturday!

Oh, and while you’re out and about, you might as well hang around for the North Park Tree Lighting taking place at 6 pm near Room.

Room


My feet are ready for Movember.

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Yea, that’s right. Movember. They’re also ready to cycle around town, propel themselves into flight and even enter into a ninja style battle.

What the hell am I talking about you may think?

Simple. Kick ass socks. Have a look at these bad boys:

Who says girls are the only ones who get to creatively accessorize? As a colorful marketing guy who works for a bank (somewhat of an oxymoron if you ask me), I have few ways to express my creativity at work outside of a funky tie or Tasmanian Devil coffee mug. But off-the-wall socks can do the trick without getting me fired.

So needless to say, these socks have been added to my wardrobe and are providing a little shock and awe in my office.

Too intense for you? Here’s some slightly less crazy, but just as awesome options for you:

Get to Blue Collar Buffalo so your feet can look as cool as mine.

And now we wait…

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Back in August I wrote about the possibility that the empty St. Margaret’s school building could be sold and turned into a high end residential development. If you haven’t had a chance to read through the details, please click here.

This morning, I spoke with Fr. Joe Wolf from St. Margaret’s and asked for a quick update. He was happy to oblige and his response was just what I wanted to hear. Both parties (presumably St. Margaret’s Church or the Diocese of Buffalo along with Iskalo Development Corp.) have signed the contract for the sale.

We – and I say “we” purposefully as this transaction is for the entire community, not just those involved directly – are now in the midst of the 60 day inspection period. That means Iskalo is able to fully inspect the property to identify any problems or concerns that could void the deal. They have the opportunity to back out if something detrimental arises as part of that inspection. Fr. Joe went on to say however, that the inspection process is going well so far.

Fingers crossed. Stay tuned.

Oh, and Go Bills!

A Splash of Color for A Taste of Thai

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Here’s the Taste of Thai façade earlier this year:

Taste of Thai Before

Nothing to complain about, but here’s a shot of it today:

taste of thai after 2

A bold new look quickly gave some pop to the streetscape. I nearly rear-ended the car in front of me while staring it down on my way to work one morning. As a marketing person, I appreciate what a fresh and colorful look can do to anything. In my opinion, this new look works well.

It also reminded me that I’m long overdue for some “Pud Thai.”

A friend of mine, Kevin Arnold, was just as impressed. “I also love the Taste of Thai make-over that happened last week” he said as we were chatting about all things Buffalo. “It’s a great example of simple, small-scale improvements that can have a big impact on the neighborhood.”

Couldn’t agree more. Which business is next?

Sell Land to City of Buffalo to Create Riverside Park, Get a Street Named After You

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Great history on our namesake street! Thanks Angela!

Angela Keppel's avatarDiscovering Buffalo, One Street at a Time

Hertel Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare in North Buffalo running from Main Street to the Niagara River. The street was previously known as Cornelius Creek Road, named after the creek, which ran near the street. Hertel Avenue was named for John Stephen Hertel, former County Supervisor.

Mr. Hertel was one of three owners of the land that is now Riverside Park and was a founder of the Black Rock Land Company, the first land development company in Buffalo. The Black Rock Land Company was founded in 1888 and consisted of John Hertel, John Esser, Frank Argus, Louis Roesch and Frederick Ullman. You’ll notice that several other streets in the Black Rock/Riverside neighborhoods are named after these men.

John Stephen Hertel came to Black Rock with his parents at the age of two, immigrating from Edesheim Germany. Mr. Hertel attended St. Francis School and learned the cooper trade, making barrels…

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