Believing in Niagara Falls

For the 2nd time in a week I had the privilege of attending a grand opening of a hip new business in Niagara Falls.

Last week it was Red Door Realty which opened a Niagara Falls Real Estate office in part because it gave them a place to send people who went to their Porter Avenue office in Buffalo but found it was in the best interest of investors and inspiring homeowners to look at Niagara Falls because of availability and affordability.

Tuesday, Savarino Development had the grand opening of the Tugby-Lennon Block at 324 Niagara St.

The dignitaries and politicians, all important, gathered for a ceremony in a vacant storefront like too many others in the same neighborhood – a beautifully renovated space in downtown Niagara Falls with 10 modern apartments upstairs that will be soon rented and empty retail downstairs for want of tenants. It’s a story we’ve heard before but a broken record. Oh wait. “Did he say ‘Broken Record?’”

Jessica Berry loves Niagara Falls. She also loves records, travel and Edyta Chorostkowska. Berry will open Daredevil Records in the ground floor of the Savarino property.

She’s traveled to 43 countries and loves records but there is nowhere she’d call home besides Hyde Park. She’s filled with cool travel stories like the tale of finding a copy of the Clash’s “Combat Rock” in Marrakesh so apparently she has rocked the Kasbah.

“There is nowhere in the world I would rather live,” Berry said.

I heard similar words last week from Renee Moran of Red Door explaining how she moved to Hyde Park. Berry and her partner Edyta Chorostkowska feel the same way.

Berry is filled with remarkable tales about travel, for example, visiting Marrakech, Morocco and finding a copy of “Combat Rock” by The Clash.

Berry and Chorostkowska will be hosts in a lounge where you will be able to drink a beer, listen to a record and chill.

As Berry showed off her new space, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours played. The only way to improve upon things would be Bob Marley’s Legend. Heck, even Tommy Tedesco showed up.

Chorostkowska located here from Canada a few years ago and recently started as environmental planner and GIS coordinator for Niagara Falls.

The Tugby-Lennon project would not have happened without the support of USA/Niagara. Anthony Villardo is president of USA Niagara Development Corp., the entity that lords over, and strives for, a better future for downtown Niagara Falls.

Villardo is happy to speak of a neighborhood decimated by urban renewal and suburban flight making a recovery. He has a good gig and speaks for the betterment of Niagara because he lives, and chooses to raise his family here.

Assemblyman Angelo Morinello was present because not much matters more to him than a new vision, a renaissance for the city he has served for his lifetime.

He pointed out the chasm of Niagara Street is now crossable. It was once 7 lanes. Thanks to the Department of Transportation it is now 4.

Mayor Robert Restaino is excited about the new development that had origins preceding his administration 6 long years and a pandemic ago.

“The thing that impressed me most is that we engaged the commercial space,” Restaino said, “apartments are good but we need to develop an atmosphere downtown.”

Niagara Falls Councilmember Traci Bax was present to check out the new space and talk about grants available from the city as part of the American Rescue Plan. More funds are available