Power City Eatery closing

(Editor’s note: Power City Eatery was one of my favorite places to meet people to talk about Niagara Falls. I also loved sending tour guests there for lunch. I like and respect Joe Hotchkiss and wish him great success no matter where he goes or what he does next. This is a huge loss. Please support Misty Guild on Niagara Street.

A couple points worth noting: Construction on the Radio Social project on 3rd Street still has not begun. The former electric company building as well as the former Imperial Garage remain shuttered. 

Real estate records show the Power City Eatery building changed hands on May 8, 2021 for $309,000 with the purchaser's address being 2760 Kenmore Ave. Tonawanda, the Montante business office.

In an unrelated neighborhood matter, after multiple years of buildout with no brewery opening in sight, I am waiting to hear if Hammer & Crown Brewing at 466 Third St. will actually open. I won't go into details without talking to John Paul Meteer but it is looking bleak. Below is a Facebook post from Hotchkiss regarding Power City.)

This Was More Than a Deli — It Was Home

In 2016, we unlocked the doors to Power City Eatery with a vision to bring something fresh, real, and meaningful to Niagara Falls. What started as a dream built on passion and a love for food became something far greater than we ever imagined — it became a home.

A place where regulars turned into friends. Where first-time customers became loyal supporters. Where conversations over coffee

, laughter during lunch rushes

, and early morning prep work filled every inch of our space with purpose. Every sandwich, every order, every early morning and late night — it all mattered. Every bit of blood, sweat, and tears has gone into making Power City what it is today.

Becoming sole owner in 2021 was one of the most exciting and terrifying chapters of this journey. Coming out of the chaos of the pandemic, we held on. We stayed open, we adapted, we hustled — because we believed in what we had built, and we weren’t ready to give up on it. And many of you weren’t ready either. You showed up, you kept us going, and you believed in us just as much.

But the reality is, the past few years have been tough. While we weathered the storm of COVID, the relentless rise in food costs and operational expenses have taken a deep toll. And as difficult as this decision is, it’s time for a new chapter — for ourselves, for our family, and for the future.

To our loyal customers, our die-hard regulars, and the local businesses who believed in us — thank you.

Thank you for every order, every kind word, every review, and every referral. You helped build this place with us.To our staff — past and present — you were the heartbeat of Power City. Whether it was during our busiest mornings or slowest afternoons, your hard work, loyalty, and spirit kept this place alive.

To our family — thank you for always showing up. For holding us up when we were tired, for cheering us on when things felt impossible, and for sacrificing right alongside us. This business was never just ours — it belonged to everyone who poured their heart into it.

We are beyond proud of what Power City Eatery has become. We hope that in some small way, we’ve left an impact. That something we made or shared made your day better, even once.

While we don’t have an official closing date just yet, we know it’s coming sooner rather than later. So if you’ve been craving one last Pastrami Melt

or just want to sit with a great cup of coffee

and soak it all in — now’s the time. Please make sure to use any remaining gift certificates before we close our doors.

Thank you, Niagara Falls, for embracing us. Thank you for the memories.

This isn’t goodbye forever — it’s just goodbye for now.

With love and gratitude,

Joe and Kristine