North Buffalo to get its first hotel

  • 2013-06-03
Rocco Termini, a developer, is in talks with William Koessler, who owns the banquet hall and restaurant Acqua, to open a boutique hotel in North Buffalo.

The new hotel, which will be the area’s first and will have only 21 rooms, will occupy the FWS building on Elmwood Avenue. There will be a banquet facility in the design as well, along with other retail concerns.

Koessler noted that although negotiations are ongoing, he is confident the hotel/banqueting space will proceed, since it’s an increasingly popular concept. The FWS building is a warehouse, and putting a hotel and banquet hall in an industrial space is very trendy. In addition, lodging is sparse in the area, which he describes as “underserved” by the hospitality industry.

There is 90,000 square feet of space in the FWS building, all of which has been rented. Among the tenants are the Buffalo Spree magazine; a yoga studio, and technology company Utilant. The building will also provide housing in the form of single and two-bedroom apartments. Termini said the building’s design will be contemporary and will feature rooms with tall windows, natural brick, and high ceilings. There will also be work done outside to improve exterior lighting and sidewalks to make the community pedestrian-friendly.

Another building nearby will be converted into apartments, as well as providing retail space for small businesses.

Since the two buildings appear to be unusual for the area, developers will want to attract both residential and commercial clients, and could work with brochure printers to develop a piece for Mailing that explains the amenities of the new buildings.
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