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Nine Nine Eight: The Glory Days of Buffalo Shopping
A nearly complete history of the great retailers that once dotted the main streets of Buffalo, New York. From the early days of the city to the bankruptcy and sale of every major local retailer, the book chronicles through biographies and photos, the times we all wish were back. Includes dozens of photos, ads, and logos.
- GenresNonfiction
172 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2007
10 people want to read
About the author
Michael F. Rizzo
15 books6 followersMichael F. Rizzo was born in Buffalo, New York. In the 1990s he produced and wrote a weekly television show, COMX-TV about the busy comic book industry. With his co-host, they interviewed hundreds of comic book creators and attended dozens of conventions.
His first book, Through The Mayors' Eyes, was finished in 1990 but languished for 15 years. He found self-publishing and released the book in 2005. After releasing several more self-published books, he published four books with The History Press.
Rizzo ran Zippy Delivery, a bike messenger courier business, for seven years, then started The Mob Tours, and founded two nonprofits.
In 2013 he and his family moved to the Pacific Northwest. In 2015 Rizzo co-hosted Northwest Brew Talk with his partner.
Following him at https://www.subscribepage.com/g4u1x1
His first book, Through The Mayors' Eyes, was finished in 1990 but languished for 15 years. He found self-publishing and released the book in 2005. After releasing several more self-published books, he published four books with The History Press.
Rizzo ran Zippy Delivery, a bike messenger courier business, for seven years, then started The Mob Tours, and founded two nonprofits.
In 2013 he and his family moved to the Pacific Northwest. In 2015 Rizzo co-hosted Northwest Brew Talk with his partner.
Following him at https://www.subscribepage.com/g4u1x1
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 17, 2012
As a small child from Buffalo, NY in the 70's, I remember taking the bus and going downtown with my grandmother. I was lucky enough to see the last remaining stores and restaurants, but it was nothing compared to the city's once fabulous and wealthy glory days.
In it's early years, Buffalo was one of the country's richest cities, due to the Erie Canal and Niagara Falls. Downtown was the "place to be" and shopping was considered a formal affair. Ladies wore hats and gloves and gentlemen wore suits just to do their shopping. These were the glory days when downtown and the city were filled with major department stores that contained multiple floors, which included restaurants and tea rooms. In addition, there was every type of store you could imagine, such as hat shops, grocery, drug stores, hardware, furniture, appliance, five and dimes, etc.
This book is very well researched and written. The author covers the boom and decline of Buffalo's shopping history, starting in the 1800s and ending in the 80s. Sadly, the decline was due to malls and super center stores (such as Wal-Mart) moving to the suburbs, not to mention a transit system that was plopped right in the middle of downtown.
I really enjoyed reading this fun and interesting book. I would love to have been able to see downtown Buffalo back when the city was once prosperous. Today, you can still see the grand buildings, with their beautiful architecture. Some of the buildings have been converted for other uses, while sadly others are vacant.
In it's early years, Buffalo was one of the country's richest cities, due to the Erie Canal and Niagara Falls. Downtown was the "place to be" and shopping was considered a formal affair. Ladies wore hats and gloves and gentlemen wore suits just to do their shopping. These were the glory days when downtown and the city were filled with major department stores that contained multiple floors, which included restaurants and tea rooms. In addition, there was every type of store you could imagine, such as hat shops, grocery, drug stores, hardware, furniture, appliance, five and dimes, etc.
This book is very well researched and written. The author covers the boom and decline of Buffalo's shopping history, starting in the 1800s and ending in the 80s. Sadly, the decline was due to malls and super center stores (such as Wal-Mart) moving to the suburbs, not to mention a transit system that was plopped right in the middle of downtown.
I really enjoyed reading this fun and interesting book. I would love to have been able to see downtown Buffalo back when the city was once prosperous. Today, you can still see the grand buildings, with their beautiful architecture. Some of the buildings have been converted for other uses, while sadly others are vacant.
Displaying 1 of 1 review