Buffalo

For the businessperson looking at Buffalo, NY, you will find that not only is the city rich with history, but also innovative enough for business and development. In this overview, you will see the advantages of a big city with small-town hospitality that can benefit your future business and traveling experiences.

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Arriving in Buffalo, NY
There are a few ways to arrive in Buffalo, New York. You can drive in on I-90, which runs east to west. This can connect you to several locations including Albany, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. If you choose to come in from the west, I-190 runs mostly along the Niagara River and Buffalo, and Niagara Falls connects on this north to south road. You can also choose to drive the I-290, which will connect various suburban cities as you drive to Buffalo, NY. The other way in to Buffalo that connects from the north and northeast of the city is I-990, and this will bring you through Lockport and the rest of the thruway system. Buffalo is located approximately 7 hours from New York City, 2½ hours from Syracuse, 1½ hours from Rochester, and 2 hours from Toronto when traveling by vehicle.

If traveling by plane, you can travel into Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BNIA) by a variety of air services. BNIA was created in 1926 and owns approximately 1000 acres of land. Providing service between Cleveland, Chicago, and Toronto, BNIA provides an average of nonstop service, with 110 flights daily to 18 cities.

You can also reach Buffalo by Amtrak. This will stop at Exchange Street in downtown Buffalo and at Depew; Depew is in the suburbs east of Buffalo. There is also a direct line for the Greyhound buses if you wish to travel that way into Buffalo, NY.

About Buffalo, NY
Buffalo is the 2nd largest city in New York with a very significant history. Its location near Niagara Falls, the Erie Canal, and very close to the Great Lakes allowed for great growth during the 19th and 20th centuries from steel and grain mills due to the close proximity of the waterways. Buffalo is a city that was founded on Dutch investors, and during the Civil War, supported the “Underground Railroad,” which is connected to the Whirlpool Bridge at Niagara Falls, known as the “Freedom Crossing.” Buffalo has many things to offer including unique cuisine, athletics, civic life, arts, and hospitality. This also includes business opportunities. Buffalo has a population of close to 1,200,000 people and has been awarded the “All-America City Award” twice and USA Today’s “City with a Heart” as the third cleanest city. Buffalo also has a great number of colleges and is becoming important in the cultural scene.

Buffalo Sports
Buffalo is home to one of the NFL teams, the Buffalo Bills, which plays at the Ralph Wilson Stadium, and is the home of the NHL Sabres at the HSBC Arena. For those who prefer baseball, Buffalo has the Buffalo Bisons, where up and coming talent goes before heading to the Cleveland Indians. Buffalo also has a major indoor lacrosse team (MLL) called the Buffalo Bandits. Buffalo also supports an ABA minor league basketball team, the Buffalo Silverbacks, so as you can see, sports are a great deal of this community’s involvement. That along with a variety of food to choose from, wonderful accommodations, and welcoming people, you can see why Buffalo has been listed as a wonderful city to visit and a great place in which to begin life and business.

Weather
The weather in Buffalo has four defined seasons. During the spring, you can expect cool nights until the end of April and some rain or possible snow. The summers are constant, comfortable, and sunny, usually ranging in the 70s-80s during the day and in the evening reaching about 60 degrees. Buffalo has actually recorded more sunny summer days than most of the major cities in the northeast, usually 60 days of the summer. In the fall, the beauty of the trees brings leaf hunters from around the nation. Buffalo is one of the largest tree-filled cities in the nation. With the crisp fall evenings, the days are warm and welcoming. The winters create a “lake effect” in the snow deposited in Buffalo; contrary to popular belief, Buffalo is not the coldest or the snowiest city in New York or the nation. The storm that was reported in 2006 was a surprise storm, and there was a blizzard during 1977, but these winter occurrences are not normal for this warm, loving little-big city.

Getting around in Buffalo
Buffalo is not only accessible for travel by vehicle, but also by taxi, and there is a subway system that runs from the University to the Marina, and when the subway reaches the theater district, it is free. At other times, the subway is $3.00 for round trip and $1.50 for a one-way ticket. Buffalo also has a very extensive bus service, for the same cost as the subway, operated by Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA). This service does charge an additional 50 cents for each zone crossed. This bus service can help you if you need to run to outlying suburbs and within the city and is reliable for traveling around. If you are looking at traveling in Buffalo, car travel of course is available, but many people of Buffalo use not only the subway systems provided by the city, but also the bus system run by NFTA. However, it is important to note that the subway runs from 5:30 am to midnight, Monday through Friday, 7 am to midnight on Saturdays, and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Sundays. Your best choices for traveling in Buffalo may simply be by taxi or car. There are also shuttles from the airport to the local hotels or the accommodation at which you may be staying; please find out from your local booking agent or the place you will be spending your time for such information.

Hotels and accommodations
Buffalo has many accommodations for your hotel needs. Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast locations are not only in Buffalo itself, but also in surrounding areas for your stay in this lovely city. If you choose to stay in the suburbs for your accommodations, expect at least a 15 to 30 minute drive into the city, depending upon the location and times you travel. The overnight options for visitors are wide and varied as to what your interest and budget may be. For visitors, just a note, there are not a great deal of hotels located downtown, so you will want to do your research and find the best accommodations for your business stay or your personal stay. Amongst the choices of overnight stays, there are also historical landmarks you can stay in, and mansions, if you are looking to experience something unique. No matter what your choice may be, whether it is a cozy bed and breakfast or a four-star hotel, Buffalo is sure to have some of the best accommodations to fit your needs and budget.

Restaurants
Buffalo, much like New York City, has a wide and diverse choice of cuisine. The very famous Buffalo chicken wings and a “beef on weck” come from Buffalo. For those who may not know what a “beef on weck” is, it is a carved roasted beef sandwich on a salted kummelweck roll. Both these foods got their start in Buffalo, but that is not all you will find in this city that combines the comfort of home and substantial foods for all types of palates. Food ranges from the famous wings to classic dining, Mexican food, sushi, and many other varieties of fine foods to choose from. There is a Buffalo Dining Guide that you can look at if you are having a difficult time finding what you are in the mood to eat. You can always ask the locals for some of the best places to go for any price budget or any desired food that you are seeking, from the world-famous Buffalo wings and charbroiled hot dogs to homemade pierogies and sponge candy. Let the culinary fare of Buffalo remind you of the home cooking you love, or take you to new treats never before experienced.

Sights to see
Buffalo boasts of a great many things to see, including Niagara Falls, which are only about 20 minutes away. Remember, if you wish to pass over to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, you must have a valid passport. However, if you are interested in other sights, there are many art galleries, museums, a Naval and Military Park, quite a few lakes, including Lake Erie, and two amusement parks that are a bit of a ride from Buffalo, but well worth the visit if you have the time. There are also nature hiking trails and a 75-acre freshwater cattail marsh within 4 miles of the downtown area. Maybe you would like to go see the zoo; the Buffalo Zoo was one of the first zoos in America. With an open concept, you are allowed to freely roam on the walkways, thus you are able to get closer to nature and truly experience this zoo. Perhaps you just wish to walk around town. Don’t forget to notice the wonderful architecture that is within the city and the lovely parks. In the summer, The Shakespeare in Delaware Park outdoor festival is held in Buffalo every year. While visiting Buffalo, make sure you visit the historic Allentown District which is located right downtown. You will find a great deal of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in Buffalo; also, there is great history with the aforementioned “underground railroad” in Buffalo. For history buffs, there is a great deal to see and experience in-between work and play.

Business in Buffalo
You may be asking yourself why you would like to do business in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo is a vast city with many choices of interest to a great number of people. The business opportunities are substantial, as is the clientele that can be reached. The fact that it is only a 3-hour drive from New York City makes it convenient for many businesses to succeed. Also with Buffalo having the airport within a workable distance, business people can travel freely. Buffalo is well within a radius of 500 miles of 55% of the United States population, thus making it an easily accessible destination for many. The city of Buffalo is highly involved with the success rates of new business ventures and the older, more established businesses. With a combination of the citizens of Buffalo, the current work force, and the City Council involved, businesses are finding springboards and success in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo is home to many types of businesses, from the larger shops that have been established to the small, quaint shops that are available. There are districts that do not have any chain stores in the area, so if you have a unique business, the Elmwood district may be up your alley. From Memorial Day to Labor Day in Bidwell Park, there is a farmers’ market on Saturday mornings. You will find that there are plenty of big retailers as well, such as Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy.

As you can see, whatever you may wish to do for your business, it can be done here in Buffalo with its great community support and the City Council’s backing. The City Council has created many groups including a Marketing Team and a Legal Group to help businesses thrive in Buffalo long term and create a strong, viable, business community. Along with the City Council, there are a great many meeting-friendly hotels that also have extensive conference spaces for the businessperson. This also includes the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. This Convention Center can accommodate up to 7,000 people and offers 64,000 square feet with audio-visual and multi-media availabilities. With the structure that has been set up to see business thrive and such a welcoming community, plans for the business person can be met with dedication and the knowledge that you are welcome in Buffalo, New York.


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