Senator Sean Ryan Visits West Side Bazaar To Survey Fire Damage

SENATOR SEAN RYAN VISITS WEST SIDE BAZAAR TO SURVEY FIRE DAMAGE

Grant Street Mainstay Accepting Donations to Support Business Owners Impacted by Bazaar’s Closure

BUFFALO – Today, September 23, 2022, New York State Senator Sean Ryan visited the West Side Bazaar to survey the damage caused by a fire earlier this week. The fire caused an estimated $300,000 in damage, including $100,000 to the building and $200,000 to its contents.

The Westminster Economic Development Initiative, which operates the West Side Bazaar, is working with the owners of the businesses who operate out of it to determine what they need to recover and reopen. In the meantime, WEDI has announced that they are looking for below-market-rate commercial kitchen and retail space for the impacted businesses. They also set up a fundraiser to support the business owners; monetary donations can be made at donorbox.org/donateforimpact.

The West Side Bazaar is a one-of-its-kind small business incubator supporting entrepreneurs on their path to becoming successful business owners. It consists of several food and retail vendors which sell quality authentic products from all around the world. The Bazaar serves women, minorities, refugees, immigrants, and others who do not qualify for support from traditional banking and financial institutions by providing microloans and technical business assistance. To date, the West Side Bazaar has incubated more than 48 small businesses. The fire came just weeks after the groundbreaking for the West Side Bazaar’s significantly larger new location at 1432 Niagara Street, which is expected to open late next year.

Senator Sean Ryan said, “For years, the West Side Bazaar has been home to small businesses run by members of Buffalo’s immigrant and refugee communities. As a popular dining and shopping destination on the West Side, it has also been the perfect symbol of the cultural and economic value of Buffalo’s diverse population. As a longtime patron and supporter of the Bazaar, I was devastated to see the damage in person. I am confident that when it reopens, the Bazaar will be better than ever – but in the meantime, I am calling on the City of Good Neighbors to do what you do best and help support the small business owners whose livelihood has been threatened by this setback.”

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