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Buffalo Business First
Gen Z cites housing affordability as its top election issue
In the wake of rapid home-price appreciation during the Covid-19 pandemic, housing is playing a bigger role in how Americans vote — among one demographic in particular.<\p> Ninety-one percent of adult Gen Zers said in a recent Redfin Corp. (Nasdaq: RDFN) survey housing affordability is important when considering whom they will vote for in the presidential election this November. Among a list of nine broad political topics, the subject ranked No. 1 for that generation — ranking even higher than the strength of the overall economy, which was the top priority for millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers. Housing affordability for Gen Z respondents also outranked issues of education, gun rights and abortion rights.<\p>
Tops' only remaining franchisee makes one thing clear
Tops Friendly Markets’ franchise in Lewiston has been in business for 60 years. And amid recent news of Tops acquiring franchise stores, the Lewiston franchise owner has a clear message: We’re not going anywhere. <\p> Current owner Anthony DiMino’s father and uncle opened the Lewiston franchise in 1964. DiMino himself started working there at age 12 and at 19 was the youngest store manager in the Tops network. <\p>
Station Twelve assessment drop is revealed in settlement deal
Station Twelve’s property assessment value is getting a reduction for 2024 – but it’s nowhere near the $14.67 million cut the site owner sought in the original legal petition filed. <\p> Northtown Property Owner LLC in July 2023 filed a petition in state Supreme Court in Erie County, alleging that the town had overvalued the Station Twelve properties by at least $14.67 million.<\p>
Manufacturer, once headquartered in Buffalo, passes $1B in sales
Columbus McKinnon Corp., once headquartered in Buffalo, hit a record $1 billion in sales in fiscal 2024. <\p> Sales grew by 8% and gross margin reached 37% at Columbus McKinnon (Nasdaq: CMCO), which has about 125 employees at Getzville's CrossPoint Business Park and is now centered in Charlotte, North Carolina.<\p>
Redevelopment back on the table for Grand Island hotel
With no deal yet on a sale, the developer of the former Radisson Hotel on Grand Island says he’ll move forward with redevelopment plans. <\p> That follows a decision to reduce the price in May for the 263-room hotel to $8.9 million, down from the $10.2 million price tag when the hotel at 100 Whitehaven Road was first listed for sale in January.<\p>
These Buffalo-based CEOs run a $4.3B global business focused on fun
Three brothers share the CEO title at Delaware North Cos. Buffalo Business First had the opportunity to sit down with Louis "Lou" and Jeremy “Jerry” Jacobs Jr., the two brothers who run operations from the company’s Buffalo headquarters. Brother Charles (Charlie) is in Boston and handles the Boston Bruins and Boston Garden.<\p> As the third generation of leaders, the brothers took over in 2015 for their father, Jeremy Jacobs, who remains board chairman of the $4.3 billion multinational hospitality company with a workforce exceeding 48,000. <\p>
Sept. 11 foundation plans 'Veterans Village' in Erie County
A national nonprofit organization plans to tear down a long-vacant Cheektowaga nursing home to build a 91-unit apartment building for homeless veterans.<\p> The Tunnel to Towers Foundation will present its plans for Veterans Village at 3600 Harlem Road to the town planning board next week.<\p>
Per Scholas names managing director for Buffalo
A nonprofit that offers tech training to often-overlooked talent has named the leader of its new Buffalo campus.<\p> South Bronx-based Per Scholas, a national organization focused on advancing economic mobility through tuition-free training, professional development and employer connections, recently announced on Linkedin that Jeremy Besch has been named managing director of Buffalo. <\p>
Wanakah in 2024: Pickleball courts, a focus on family and more
With a waiting list for golf memberships and a facility that's full much of the year, Wanakah Country Club leadership could understandably be content with the club's status entering its 125th anniversary in 2024.<\p> But Mike Karnath, general manager and COO of the Hamburg club near the shores of Lake Erie, isn't taking the club's growth lightly. Entering his 11th season at Wanakah, Karnath has overseen multiple renovations to update and improve the club on a consistent basis.<\p>
Roswell renewed for national designation, multi-million-dollar grant
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center expects to receive at least $22 million as part of the renewal of its National Cancer Institute designation.<\p> The renewal for the cancer center support grant brings both dollars and cache for the Buffalo site, which is among just 57 NCI-designated as comprehensive cancer center facilities across the country and the only one in New York outside of the metro-Manhattan region. It is also one of just 30 members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network<\p>
$9.9M college campus sale tops list of May's largest CRE deals
The sale of the former Medaille University campus was the standout, but there was plenty of other commercial real estate activity in Erie County in May.<\p> Here's a look at the top ten deals, ranked by value.<\p>
Internal tensions come to a head at D'Youville as external ones brew
Tensions that have been brewing for years between D'Youville University's administration and its faculty have reached new highs over an AI robot commencement speech and a halted $100 million construction project. <\p> Those expenses and others were highlighted in a three-page letter that D'Youville's faculty union sent this week to the board of trustees, calling into question spending decisions made by President Lorrie Clemo. A day later, the university announced it would accept the union's most recent wage proposal in a years-long labor contract negotiation. <\p>
$1.43M sale gives Clarence home its first set of new owners
This 27-year-old Clarence home has had the same owner since the house was built. Until now.<\p> Robert and Lori Oates of Williamsville recently sold 4590 Boncrest Drive West, Clarence, for $1.43 million to Scott Seibert and Maria Kraimer of Princeton, New Jersey, according to June 4 filings with the Erie County clerk’s office.<\p>
Instead of moving to California, co-founders chose to stay in Buffalo
Two hometown guys get the opportunity to move to the big city. <\p> It’s a tale we’ve heard many times before, but in the case of Jonathan Gorczyca and Nicholas Barone, it’s one with a happy ending for Buffalo.<\p>
New Era acquires Mass. company, expects to add $2B in annual revenue
New Era Cap is combining with a sports lifestyle brand, a move that’s expected to generate about $2 billion in annual revenue.<\p> New Era today announced an agreement in which the company will acquire ’47, a sports lifestyle brand. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, according to a news release.<\p>
Noco continues expansion streak with another WNY acquisition
Noco has continued its acquisition streak and gotten into the home insulation business by picking up Magic Foam WNY of Cheektowaga.<\p> The company is now Noco Insulation. It offers spray foam, blown fiberglass and cellulose insulation for homes.<\p>
PHOTOS: Inside the new NYBP Brewery & Lodge, opening this month
The New York Beer Project will open its newest Western New York location on June 14.<\p> The NYBP Brewery & Lodge sits on a 9-acre wooded parcel at 245 Windward Drive off Sterling Park in Orchard Park, about a mile away from the Highmark Stadium.<\p>
46 jobs lost as Yelloh (formerly Schwan's) closes 8 N.Y. sites
A frozen food delivery company known for its bright yellow trucks is shutting down several of its New York operations, affecting 46 workers across the state and 10 workers in Western New York. <\p> Cygnus Home Service LLC, which does business as Yelloh and is based in Marshall, Minnesota, is closing eight operations across New York, including one on South Dow Street in Jamestown. The 10 Jamestown employees will be laid off between now and Aug. 26, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice filed with the state. <\p>
The National Observer: Sign of reversal seen amid loan delinquencies
Welcome to The National Observer, a roundup of top business news and actionable insights from across The Business Journals network of publications. Today we've got stories on a decline in asking prices in the housing market, a shift in consumer-spending habits and changes coming to Cracker Barrel restaurants. But first, we go inside the numbers on still-rising delinquencies among loans backed by commercial real estate.<\p> Get more stories like these every day in your inbox by subscribing to The National Observer newsletter.<\p>
How Buffalo airlines rate for cancelations, delays, baggage mishaps
If you’re flying out of the Buffalo area this summer and don’t want canceled or delayed flights or missing baggage to ruin your vacation, some airlines have a better report card than others. <\p> According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest Air Travel Consumer Report produced by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, 77.6% of 1,839 arrivals to Buffalo Niagara International Airport in the first quarter of the year were on time, while 82.4% of 1,838 departures were on time. <\p>
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