By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Friday marks the tenth anniversary for Western New York's only Latin dance club. The Chippewa Street club, La Luna, is only one of the surprising success stories for entrepreneur Mark Goldman.
If you haven't been to a good party lately, you probably haven't been down to Chippewa. And they'll be celebrating there tonight with a spectacular anniversary party beginning at six. Everyone's invited and a pretty diverse crowd is surer to be there. Goldman says people laughed when he decided to take the Latino culture mainstream ten years ago.
His bold idea caught on. And La luna wasn't the only night club success story. Others have sprung up all along the strip. Some might say it's been too much of a good thing. But Goldman says business owners have it under control.
Still, he admits that maintaining a diversity of businesses is crucial to the districts' stability. Goldman acknowledged that the balance shifted a bit when he closed the calumet arts cafe. The top floors have been idle for years and the building is for sale.
Goldman is setting his sights beyond Chippewa. His Allen Street Hardware Cafe has been a hit. And the man credited with the rebirth of Chippewa says he's getting ready to take on another transformation - this time in Black Rock.
Goldman says its too soon to talk about the details. But he says he's once again looking to buy low and grow big.