By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The developers of the new Larkin at Exchange office complex near downtown Buffalo have come up with a novel way of shuttling tenants between the building and the downtown business core. Rather than buying a traditional van or bus, they've purchased an authentic British taxi cab.
The $50,000 silver taxi was unveiled Thursday during a noon-hour ceremony. It then took a couple of test runs up and down Exchange Street. Actual shuttle service begins Monday.
There are only a few hundred of the taxis in the US. Building owner Howard Zemsky says it's designed to stand out.
"Even going back a year, we were looking at something different," Zemsky said. "We happened upon an article about these London taxis. Because this is such an historic building, and the London taxi has such an historic shape and has been in use for so many years, we thought it would be a fun amenity to have."
Zemsky's building is now known as Larkin at Exchange. It was the long-time home of Graphic Controls. It was built nearly 100 years ago as one of the buildings of the Larkin Company.
Zemsky and his partners have spent millions converting the building into luxurious office space. He says the building is 25 percent occupied with signed commitments in hand for 60 percent.
The law firm of Kavinoky and Cook will move in this summer. Partner Arnold Gardner was among those on hand for the unveiling of the new taxi.
"I've been to London often. And I've been in a lot of London taxis, but they don't look like this," Gardner said.
The taxi has a leather interior, power hook-ups for laptop computers and cell phones.
Besides the taxi, other amenities at the new Larkin at Exchange include a daycare service, fitness facilities, a restaurant and high tech conference centers.