The Broadway-Fillmore business district got a boost last Thursday as Aldi opened.
“We think that Aldi’s is going to do extremely well with the consumers in this community. We think that because they will attract more people to this neighborhood to shop, it will help the Broadway Market and all the vendors in the market.”
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First Aldi and now Buffalo’s most famous address is about to get another huge lift.
From Buffalo Business First:
Developers are close to signing a deal to transform the former Sattler’s Department Store site on Broadway into a $10 million urban technician training center.
The nonprofit St. John Baptist Fruit Belt Development Corp. is working with Erie Community College to create the Urban Academic Skills Industrial Technician Training Center at 998 Broadway, which most recently housed a Kmart store.
Plans call for building a 90,000-square-foot facility to house ECC’s automotive technician training classes and other vocational training programs.
Groundbreaking is set for October and the project should be completed by 2014. Ciminelli Real Estate Corp is also partner for the development.
This is a win for the B-F. The capital investment will be the largest ever seen for a single project in the business district. It will bring an influx of people on a daily basis. The bringing back to life of the 998 site can only help surrounding businesses…including the Broadway Market. Having ECC involved in some capacity in the neighborhood is great. It will also give residents an opportunity to develop skills for good jobs.
A l i v e!
With work beginning on Aldi on the former Sattler’s site, I decided to stop by and shoot some pics. To my surprise, the owners of the old Kmart building put a fresh coat of paint on the structure. The building was looking a bit drab and the paint job along with the construction starting make the property look ALIVE.
It is my hope that Aldi will spur development in the old Kmart building along with the former Rite Aid on the site.
Only time will tell.
The photos include the Kmart building, Aldi construction, some old Sattler’s photos and the former Rite Aid.
Listen:
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Eileen Buckley (2011-08-17) – Buffalo’s city Planning Board has given the thumbs up to build an Aldi’s Supermarket across from the Broadway Market.
The board voted five to one Tuesday in favor of the $1.1 million project at 998 Broadway.
Mayor Bryon Brown said he fully supports an Aldi’s in the Broadway Fillmore District.
At one time, 998 Broadway was a well known place to shop. It was former the site of Sattler’s, one of the largest department stores in the City in the 1950′s. It more recent years it was home to a Kmart.
Now Aldi’s wants to construct its discount food store at the vacant address.
The city of Buffalo’s Planning Board gave their approval to build an Aldi at 998 Broadway across from the Broadway Market this morning.
More later…
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Here we are…almost thirty years since Sattler’s occupied 998 Broadway and almost ten years since K-Mart closed up shop.
Aldi, the low price supermarket who have popped up all over WNY and Buffalo over the last decade has its sights set on Buffalo’s famous 998 Broadway address.
I am not opposed to Aldi setting up shop across from the Broadway Market. My thinking is that they will draw people to the area who would typically not go…even if a small percentage of that crowd would go to the Market, that is a bonus. As for it’s impact on Save-A-Lot (a similar supermarket) inside of the Market, that is what the free market and competition is all about.
What I do have a problem with is the store being set back off Broadway…the store should be as close to the street as possible. I don’t think it is too much to ask Aldi to do.
I think Aldi could also lead to the redevelopment of the K-Mart building if successful and help with drawing commercial interest to other properties in B-F business district.
Look at the picture above…it is of an Aldi in Minneapolis built to the street. Having a 998 Aldi built to the street will fill a void that has been there since Sattler’s was demo’d in 1987.
Hopefully Aldi will not pull out from the project and become an active partner in making things work to make B-F better.
Waiting…
That is exactly what 998 Broadway has been doing since K-Mart closed its doors in 2002.
A number of potential deals have fallen through for the site of the former Sattler’s over time. In recent years, there were two big almosts for 998. In 2009, True Bethel Baptist Church was close to transforming the site into a multi-purpose facility and in 2007, the Buffalo Public Schools was close to converting 998 into its new alternative school.
The building and the property have been on my mind lately. As 998 remains dormant, it leaves a big whole on Broadway and in the Broadway-Fillmore business district.
I contacted real estate agent Bob Biniszkiewicz from Pyramid Brokerage who actively markets the property. He indicated that the building receives a number of inquiries that range from light industrial to retail use. Biniszkiewicz thinks the likelihood of seeing something along the lines of the a non retail use is probably the most realistic option for 998. Continue reading
I think we all realize that there are no silver bullet solutions for the east side. The author of this editorial realizes that too. I like to think that the positive sentiments expressed in this op ed may be indicative of a public paradigm shift and recognition that the east side has great potential. Could it be true? I hope so!
(Buffalo News Editorial) Cold policy decisions drive a lot of urban renewal, but art also plays a role. And for what once was the heart of one of Buffalo’s most vibrant neighborhoods, new life may stem from the art of seeing hope where most see only decay.
At what is arguably Buffalo’s most storied address— 9-9-8 Broadway, made famous by a generation-spanning jingle for the Sattler’s department store that once stood on the site—True Bethel Baptist Church is eyeing plans to convert a vacant Kmart building into a new performing arts center and 800-seat banquet facility. Good news in itself, that effort also could spur the synergy that other groups have so long sought for Broadway-Fillmore redevelopment.
The site is across the street from the landmark Broadway Market, itself struggling for rejuvenation. It’s near Corpus Christi Catholic Church, taken over in recent years by an order of priests intent on boosting the neighborhood as well as preserving the gorgeous church. And it’s not far from the Central Terminal, newly considered as a possible high-speed rail station and long the focus of preservation attempts.
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If you haven’t heard about it already, True Bethel Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Darius Pridgen, is in the process of finalizing purhase of “Buffalo’s most famous address”, 998 Broadway.
I will try to do an interview with Rev. Pridgen sometime this week. Personally…I love the idea and would be interested to hear what you think?!?!?
Here is Buffalo News article from 04/16/2009…
True Bethel Baptist Church, one of the city’s fastest-growing congregations, is about to add another chapter to the long, proud history of an already famous address.
The church is negotiating to buy 998 Broadway, site of the former Sattler’s department store, one of Buffalo’s most beloved retail institutions, with the intention of reopening the vacant storefront as a major banquet and performing arts center.
The move represents a significant expansion for True Bethel—this will be its third location and most ambitious project to date — and will add to its reputation as a force for change on the East Side.
“It’s easy to build in communities with high hopes,” said the Rev. Darius Pridgen, senior pastor of True Bethel. “Our mission is to be in communities that need help.”
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Alive…
There have been many things planned and proposed for 998 Broadway ever since K-Mart closed up shop a number of years ago…so I won’t get excited about the following news until I see the deal finalized.
From WKBW…
The Broadway Market and surrounding areas may see a new neighbor in town. Pastor Darius Pridgen of True Bethel Baptist Church is confirming with Eyewitness News tonight his plans to transform the old Kmart building on Broadway into another location for his parish.
“We have signed a letter of intent with the owners of 999 998 Broadway, which is the most famous address at the City of Buffalo,” said Pridgen. “If the due diligence goes well, and the financing of our lenders go well, we hope to be making an announcement within the next few weeks of our intentions to expand or look for other properties.”
There are also plans to add a state-of-the-art entertainment complex inside the building.
“Our intentions are to add a performing arts center in the center of the city in which people would be able to use for concerts, charitable events, plays,” added Pridgen.
Pridgen hopes to have a final decision in the next few weeks.
You can click here to watch video and see original WKBW story…
998 Broadway dropped off my radar screen until it popped up on my e-planner today…I wish I would have remembered earlier because I would have liked to attend the auction of the former K-Mart building today.
If you recall, the building was to be turned into a new school, but the deal fell through.
If anyone knows what the result of the auction is later today, please email us or drop a note in the comments.