Hertel Business Association
Today’s Pointing About Town segment finds The Marquis on Hertel Avenue at the Hertel Business Association. This is our first not for profit and we are excited to share their story of volunteerism and beautification.
Growing up in Williamsville in the northern suburbs, I always enjoyed visiting the bars in the city of Buffalo. Hertel Avenue was adorned with many of my favorites. But as I moved into the City and began to see the Avenue for more then that, it became a favorite for restaurants and shops. Fast forward 30 years and it now houses my pet shop, grocery store, gym, jeweler, and local bank branch. Not to mention my favorite restored theater. The renaissance of the Avenue viewed through my life lens has enriched my city experience and I am grateful for its steward, the Hertel Business Association.
From their website, at https://hertel-ave.com/, ‘The Hertel Business Association is a dedicated group of volunteers who work to bring together resources, events and benefits to the membership, comprised of local business owners and community members. They are committed to the beautification, preservation, prosperity, and growth of Hertel Avenue, a thriving street in North Buffalo for over 30 years! They offer boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, florists, gift shops, home décor showrooms and service professionals. Casual and fine dining establishments, taverns and coffee shops also offer a wide variety of choices for friends to come together. Hertel's renaissance has made it the destination in Buffalo to shop, eat, drink and socialize for local and out-of-town visitors alike!’
Last weekend, we ran into a few of our friends complete with landscaping tools in hand. The HBA had organized a Spring clean-up for the street. This included trash pick up, weeding and mulching. Embers had kindly donated the mulch this year.
These folks were working hard, sweating hard, and proud to personally beautify The Hertel landscape. Despite our non-seasonal weather, everyone braved the elements and cleaned up the street. I was secretly wanting to ask them if they were for hire for my own backyard!
Curent Board Members featured here in the photos are Lisa Samar, Suzanna Laba, Judy Porto, Sal Dentico, Jodi Drew, and Lisa Rinolio. Missing is Denise Lis. Their dedication to this neighborhood is a source of pride for all of them. Some live here, some work here and , some do both. Caring for the neighborhood is paramount.
The Association offers three (3) types of Annual Memberships. Business Memberships are $150, Block Club or Organization Memberships are $75 and Resident Memberships are $30. If you shop on Hertel, have clients on Hertel, or just want to contribute to its beautification, consider joining!
Signs are being displayed right now for their upcoming Summer Series. Each month has its own celebration. May 26th is Light up the Avenue, Glow Stick Night, June 30th offers Good Vibes with Mind & Body Wellness, July 28th is a Block Party complete with Kids Fun and Sweet Treats, August 25th is Music & Murals, Explore Hertel’s Arts, and September 30th offers Flannel & Football, Fall Season Kickoff for all the Buffalo Bills fans out there! The ingenuity of these events is impressive and draws thousands of residents. That should be good for all the businesses up and down Hertel!
With so many ways to become involved and help support the community, the HBA has something for everyone. Flowers, dog treats, jewelry, Buffalo apparel, Chocolates, Ice Cream, casual and high-end dining, grocery and drug stores, gifts, children’s toys, pizza, lobster, Mexican. Cocktails, coffee, and just about anything else you need you can find on Hertel Avenue. Come for a visit and you might just find you need to stay for the day and return many times more.
Thank you to the board members and volunteers at the Hertel Business Association. Their hard work makes for a great place to shop, conduct business, work-out, eat, drink and certainly be merry! They say It takes a village but, really, it takes a vibrant business association to make the community flourish!
