How can Buffalo generate energy downtown, outside of weekday work hours?
M&T Bank is trying to stimulate more of that activity, through its new “Mission Main Street” initiative.
The bank, which is based downtown, is supporting three events as its initiative gets off the ground.
In each case, M&T is backing organizers who brought forward ideas for events they wanted to hold.
The first of the events, the Main Street Block Party, took place Sept. 6 on Main Street and featured fashion, food and music.
The second event, GObike Buffalo’s Circle the Square, is scheduled for Saturday at Niagara Square. The square will be closed to cars, allowing participants to travel around the square on bikes, roller skates, Rollerblades, skateboards and wheelchairs for 100 laps, in a relay format.
The third event, PickleFest Buffalo, will take place Oct. 19 at Seneca One tower, and will include a pickleball tournament.
Earlier this year, M&T held a brainstorming session with leaders of nonprofit and community groups about how to draw more people downtown outside of regular working hours, said Erin Komorowski, chief of staff for M&T chair and CEO René Jones.
“These events really came out of that collaboration,” she said.
In each case, M&T agreed to throw its support − in the form of funding, volunteers, recommendations and introductions − for ideas presented by organizers.
The Main Street Block Party, which stretched from Chippewa Street to Huron Street on Main, showcased Buffalo’s creative economy. Buffalo Fashion Runway led the event, which drew more than 1,500 attendees and 76 vendors.
GObike describes Circle the Square as a “party on wheels.” It’s not a race, and it is modeled on an event in Portland, Ore., called the Ladds 500.
GObike Buffalo on its website explained its rationale for Circle the Square.
“We still remember the Buffalo of the ’90s and 2000s when we took ourselves a lot less seriously, gathered downtown often, and felt a stronger community connection,” the organization said. “Best way to bring those vibes back is with a party, in an iconic square, entirely closed to cars.”
Registration for Circle the Square is free, but participants are required to sign a waiver to join. There were will be prize money for best individual costume, best team costume and best decorated bikes.
PickleFest, led by the Mind Over Foundation, will feature a doubles pickleball tournament and celebrate “all things pickle.”
Part of the inspiration for the pickleball tournament came from an event that used to draw crowds downtown. “People missed the Gus Macker,” said Komorowski, referring to the three-on-three basketball tournament.
And the hope is that when the festival wraps up, attendees will head out to downtown bars and restaurants, she said.
Business owners and political leaders have been talking about ways to revitalize downtown, particularly with more workers on hybrid or remote schedules. M&T has a big presence downtown and for years held the Plaza Event Series in front of its headquarters at lunchtime. The bank continues to sponsor Thursday & Main, an outdoor concert series held during the summer.
Once all three Mission Main Street events are over, M&T and its partners in supporting the events will review how everything went and decide on steps for next year, Komorowski said.
Matt Glynn
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