Our Building
Many of our customers are interested in knowing about the history of our building.
Records have been kept for this parcel since 1816. It originally included the lot just to the west on Cottage Street. We know that by 1874, the front portion of the building was here, but records are not available to indicate the exact year of its construction. The first phase included the portion of the building up to about the door leading into our kitchen. The rear portion of the building appears to have been built shortly thereafter, and the wedge-shaped addition on the Virginia Street side, where you enter, was completed by at least 1929.
A review of Polk's City of Buffalo Directory reveals some of the businesses that operated out of this building in ten-year increments. Keep in mind that there were three storefronts and that the building has been subdivided in many different configurations over the years!
1929: Marinaccino Saverio Shoe Repair
1929: Hill Lemon Juice Company
1940: Alenius Gunnar, Furniture Repair
1940: Mrs. Addla Tomas, Grocer
1950: Lomascola Hardware (until 1970)
1960: Sam's Delicatessan
1970: Norm's Superette
1980: Jim's Delicatessan
1980: Nagi's Deli
The County of Erie obtained the property in 1987 through foreclosure and subsequently transferred ownership to the City of Buffalo in 1991. The building was vacant from 1987-1990. In 1991 the building was sold to Anthony Corto, who received funds from the city to repair and renovate it. The Lower West Side Community Development Center operated out of the portion that is now the dining room and entrance area in the early 1990s. A florist shop called Enchanted Florist occupied the front portion for a brief period in the late 1990s. Carroll Ann Simon purchased the building from Mr. Corto in October 2003 and immediately began to redevelop it as Betty's with Betty's co-owner, Doty Hall.
We know that many of our customers have fond memories of this building when it was used as a hardware store or as a grocery store. We love to hear these stories and encourage you to tell them to us. We will file them and share them with others.
Betty's is named for Doty's mother and is a tribute to mothers everywhere. We hope that you experience the kind of comfort and care here that Betty gave to her family, and that Betty's will inspire you to care for and about others.
Records have been kept for this parcel since 1816. It originally included the lot just to the west on Cottage Street. We know that by 1874, the front portion of the building was here, but records are not available to indicate the exact year of its construction. The first phase included the portion of the building up to about the door leading into our kitchen. The rear portion of the building appears to have been built shortly thereafter, and the wedge-shaped addition on the Virginia Street side, where you enter, was completed by at least 1929.
A review of Polk's City of Buffalo Directory reveals some of the businesses that operated out of this building in ten-year increments. Keep in mind that there were three storefronts and that the building has been subdivided in many different configurations over the years!
1929: Marinaccino Saverio Shoe Repair
1929: Hill Lemon Juice Company
1940: Alenius Gunnar, Furniture Repair
1940: Mrs. Addla Tomas, Grocer
1950: Lomascola Hardware (until 1970)
1960: Sam's Delicatessan
1970: Norm's Superette
1980: Jim's Delicatessan
1980: Nagi's Deli
The County of Erie obtained the property in 1987 through foreclosure and subsequently transferred ownership to the City of Buffalo in 1991. The building was vacant from 1987-1990. In 1991 the building was sold to Anthony Corto, who received funds from the city to repair and renovate it. The Lower West Side Community Development Center operated out of the portion that is now the dining room and entrance area in the early 1990s. A florist shop called Enchanted Florist occupied the front portion for a brief period in the late 1990s. Carroll Ann Simon purchased the building from Mr. Corto in October 2003 and immediately began to redevelop it as Betty's with Betty's co-owner, Doty Hall.
We know that many of our customers have fond memories of this building when it was used as a hardware store or as a grocery store. We love to hear these stories and encourage you to tell them to us. We will file them and share them with others.
Betty's is named for Doty's mother and is a tribute to mothers everywhere. We hope that you experience the kind of comfort and care here that Betty gave to her family, and that Betty's will inspire you to care for and about others.