Downtown Bazaar to close later this month

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Downtown Bazaar in downtown Buffalo will close later this month, its parent company Westminster Economic Development Initiative announced Monday.

The bazaar, a second location that opened following a September 2022 fire at the West Side Bazaar on Niagara Street, will close on Dec. 21. Its lease ends on Dec. 31.

The Downtown Bazaar was located at the former Expo Market location in the heart of Buffalo's Theatre District on Main Street. It opened in April 2023 as a temporary solution following the blaze at the Niagara Street location that significantly damaged the 11 businesses within. The Niagara Street location re-opened in October 2023.

Westminster Economic Development Initiative said in a news release that the closure is "unrelated to the growth of the West Side Bazaar on Niagara Street."

The Main Street location originally featured five restaurants and one boutique, offering a mix of Burmese/Thai, Ethiopian, Filipino, Mexican and Sudinese food. Many of the restaurant owners are immigrants or refugees.

"Downtown Bazaar has been a vital incubator for small businesses, providing aspiring entrepreneurs with key business skills while fostering a vibrant community space that brings together people of all backgrounds to enjoy diverse foods and products," Buffalo Common Council member Mitch Nowakowski said in a statement Monday. "As it closes at the end of this year, this decision reflects its commitment to strengthening the workforce and economy."

WEDI is working with each of the businesses to find a new home. Plans are expected to be finalized within the next month.