Throwback Thursday to 1981 with Bailey Slipper Shop!
Let’s celebrate Throwback Thursday with a trip to Bailey Slipper Shop at its original location on Bailey Avenue in 1981!
Did you know that the Kensington-Bailey Neighborhood Housing Service has been supporting the community for over 40 years? Even though our name has changed a few times, our services and commitment have remained the same! Now located at 995 Kensington Avenue and a part of the University District Community Development Association (UDCDA), Ken-Bailey NHS continues to provide access to housing repair, weatherization, and commercial building repair programs to help our neighborhood housing and commercial stock maintain their endurance and vibrancy.
For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we travel back to 1981 to 3090 Bailey Avenue where Bailey Slipper Supply was located since 1929. As a small family-owned shoe store, Bailey Slipper Supply recognized the opportunity presented by the burgeoning dance community in Buffalo and transformed into a full-service, multi-location dance supply store, now operating in multiple locations in Williamsville, Orchard Park and Rochester. During its tenure on Bailey Avenue, the Bailey Slipper Supply owners participated in the City of
Buffalo sponsored architectural and design and façade program facilitated by Ken-Bailey NHS to upgrade and repair their building façade. Pictured to the left is Bailey Slipper Shop owner Angelo Runfola standing in front of his newly renovated storefront. The building is currently occupied by United Men’s Fashion, and remains a well-maintained mixed-use building.
At that time, the City sponsored program offered a 25% rebate of the first $12,000 to support local businesses with costly design and façade repairs in the Kensington/Bailey neighborhood. Now, in 2018, UDCDA continues to provide a similar program for Bailey Avenue businesses through the Buffalo Main Streets Initiative (BMSI), which, reimburses up to 75% or up to $50,000 per building, for renovation of the façade, awnings, signage, lighting, interior commercial and residential building upgrades, and streetscape enhancements. Three businesses, Caribbean Experience, 99 Fast Food and Buffalo Wallpaper & Paint, recently completed renovation projects through the BMSI program including roof and façade repairs. Pictured to the right are before and after pictures of the façade improvements at Caribbean Experience located at 2897 Bailey Avenue.
UDCDA recognizes the value in providing high quality service and working to maintain business and commercial vibrancy along the Bailey Avenue Business Corridor, and has one so for over 40 years in the Ken-Bailey Neighborhood. If you are a business owner on Bailey Avenue between Winspear Avenue and Oakmont Avenue looking to upgrade or repair your building, and are in need of repair assistance, please contact UDCDA Director of Community Development, Darren Cotton, d.cotton@udcda.org, 716-832-1010 x 212.