For many pedestrians in the Theatre District, the building at 667 Main Street looks like just another old building along the street. It's actually part of a worldwide network of hostels for youth and youthful people of all ages.
There won't be much of a change in the sign out front for a month or two, but the hostel is being taken over today by Hostelling International USA from local operation.
The final stage was the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency on Tuesday approving shifting the lease on the city-owned building to the national organization. National Hostel Development Vice President Aaron Chaffee says most of the staff is shifting over also.
"It's seen quite a bit of either stop or kind of a jumping-off point for folks for the Niagara experience," Chaffee said.
"This type of hostel, typically, is maybe 50 percent domestic visitors, 50 percent international visitors. They're in Buffalo because of the natural wonders within the area."
Chaffee says the hostel houses about 6,000 people a year, about half from other countries. He says the facility pays for itself although his organization will look at future operations. It's one of 55 hostels across the U.S.
