3 days ago
Businesses react to weekend traffic closures on Chippewa
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Businesses on Chippewa Street in Buffalo experienced the first weekend of the street being closed to traffic at night, a recently implemented change to help keep the city's nightlife safer.
The change came after three people were stabbed in a large fight on Chippewa Street last weekend, but a city spokesperson said the traffic changes 'were not directly in response to the stabbing' and that discussions had been taking place for weeks.
Police used barricades to close off the section of Chippewa. WIVB News 4 spoke with business owners who said the first weekend of the closures was a success.
'I think it's going to be a nice, great, busy, fun, safe environment for everybody,' said Conor Hawkins, the co-owner of the Banshee Irish Pub on Franklin Street.
Hawkins is also a member of the Chippewa Alliance, an organization made up of various businesses that want to see a vibrant downtown entertainment district.
For the third year in a row, the organization is working with the city and police to close parts of Chippewa Street to traffic to keep patrons, business owners and police safe.
'We want to make sure people are gonna be safe and people who are coming downtown are going to have a great time and enjoy themselves,' Hawkins said.
'It's basically addressing a good problem that we're having,' said Chris Ring, president of the Chippewa Alliance and partner at Rec Room. 'We're having actually the busiest summer that we've had in many years, so basically getting ahead of the amount of people coming downtown in advance. It's something we're really excited about and embracing.'
Delaware Avenue to Franklin Street will be closed off to traffic from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights until Labor Day. Those in favor of the closures said it's better suited for nightlife activity.
'It's working with the mayor's office, Buffalo PD, our B District, working with them when we have certain issues,' Ring said. 'With us down here, it's just the traffic congestion. You have people on ATVs, dirt bikes, driving through the streets at high speeds, and when you put them in a district that has thousands of people walking around bar hopping, a tragedy is going to happen. So we're getting ahead of that right now, being proactive and closing the street.'
Business owners hope the closures draw more visitors downtown during the summer months.
'You have to have a healthy, thriving entertainment district. And to get that, safety is No. 1,' Ring said. 'The fact that we're putting safety first is only going to ensure the fact that all these hotel guests, the tourists in the summer season going to see Niagara Falls, will feel comfortable coming to an entertainment district knowing that you can grab a bite to eat and grab a drink in a safe environment.'
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
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