Pine Avenue renaissance?

Tracey Drury

By Tracey Drury – Senior Reporter, Buffalo Business First

Marketside Restaurant is about to launch a $300,000 expansion that's expected to spark excitement in the Pine Avenue neighborhood in Niagara Falls.

The restaurant at 712 E. Market St. and Pine Avenue is adding a 1,400-square-foot dining room to double seating from 70 to 145 and a 2,000-square-foot covered patio with seating for 50 more.

Owner Tony Poletti, who took over from his father two years ago, is the fourth generation of his Italian family to run the restaurant since the 1930s. He’s also a founding member and former board chair of the Pine Avenue Redevelopment Project with a focus on reviving the business district.

“I have a positive outlook. I’m hopeful that things can turn around,” he said.

That optimism comes as the so-called Little Italy district marked with arched signage continues to lose its Italian connections. First came the closure in 2021 of the DiCamillo’s Bakery’s storefront at 1700 Pine Ave. in Niagara Falls. Next, the closure and sale of the 96-year-old Como Restaurant at 2220 Pine Ave.

And three more longtime Italian restaurants are on the market for sale: Michael’s Restaurant at 3011 Pine Ave. is available for $495,000, down from the original listing price of $675,000; La Hacienda at 3019 Pine Ave. next door is on the market for $690,000; and Goodfella’s Pizzeria at 745 W. Market St. off Pine is listed for $399,000.

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La Hacienda, 3019 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls

Tracey Drury

At the same time, new restaurants have brought in entrepreneurs and cuisines from around the world.

“I hear people say you should take the arches down, but it was built by Italian Americans. My building was built by my Italian family and every other building in the neighborhood too, so in my eyes, we’re still Italian American,” Poletti said. “I welcome the change. I welcome the new businesses, resident and owners to our board. We have a couple of new people, one who took over a collision shop that was Italian and is now Bangladeshi. We have people from Yemen. As long as you take care of your property, we’ll welcome you to Pine Avenue. We want you in our business community.”

One newcomer is Mohammad Ujjal Hossain, who bought the Como in early 2024 for $525,000. Though he’s had a few false starts, Hossain said he’ll reopen in April with some changes such as adding Indian cuisine to the Italian menu, reopening the deli and developing a kids’ play area with arcade games.

“I’d like to add something for Niagara Falls people, especially in the wintertime, there’s nothing to do,” he said.

Down the street at 1514 Pine Ave., Finz & Feathers is in development at the former Palmeri’s restaurant. The project comes from Alvin Avent and his wife Kylesha Monterro, who have business ventures in Buffalo including an auto dealership and a property management company.

The restaurant will feature seafood, chicken and IPAs from local breweries, will mimic others operating under similar names around the country by Avent’s family.

“We like the diversity of Niagara Falls, and the fact it was one of the first Seven Wonders of the World,” he said. “Niagara Falls is always going to be a great place to be, with worldwide opportunities.”

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Shorty's Patio Grill & Lounge, 2626 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls

Tracey Drury

Another new operator in the neighborhood is CJ Cox, who signed a lease with the Bangladeshi new owner of Shorty’s Patio Grill & Lounge at 2626 Pine Ave. Cox reopened Shorty’s last fall for the first time in more than a decade.

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Cox, a 32-year-old real estate broker and entrepreneur, said he wanted to help breathe some new life into his hometown neighborhood.

“I’m a native, I know what it means to the city,” he said. “I have no experience in the restaurant business, just a business degree, so I was like hey, let me plug and play my skills and knowledge and see if I can revitalize and bring this back to the City of Niagara Falls.”

Shorty’s has two bars, a banquet hall and a patio. Cox plans to bring in live bands for outdoor summertime parties.

Cox foresees a neighborhood renaissance.

“I just think what Pine Avenue was known for, that has come to an end,” he said. “Pine Avenue has been in need of some reconstruction for some years now and some folks are taking advantage of the opportunities there, whether they be Bangladeshi or African American or Italians coming back. … We’re mavericks, we’re trailblazers or at least trying to give this city a try.”