Main Street in Buffalo was reopened for cars on Friday after $8 million and decades of pedestrian mall status.
The reopening took place in the middle of a series of packed houses in Shea's for "Motown: The Musical." Drivers quickly remembered how to stop in front of restaurants and drop people off and then move to a parking space.
"I think it's a step in the right direction," said Joe Jerge, owner of Della Mostra restaurant. "Whether or not it affects commerce on Main Street really is up in the air."
Jerge has a good connection since his new restaurant is connected with Shea's by an interior hallway. The restaurateur says parking right on the block might bring more pedestrians and those customers being dropped off right out front.
"That would very advantageous, not only for us but for everybody on Main Street. If you go down Main Street, there is still a lot of shuttered buildings and stuff like that. So, hopefully this will be the beginning of what may change that," Jerge said.
Many of the current theaters and restaurants don't have entrances on Washington or Pearl so customers had to hike a considerable distance to the front door before the street was reopened.
