Main Place Mall

This is one of the ugliest buildings in America. It destroyed a vibrant part of Buffalo and turned it into dead space, severing off some vital streets.
And it’s called a mall? You won’t find any store that worth shopping at in here. Your best bet is to go to the Galleria or someplace else.

I made a point to come to this mall, after hearing it was a «dead mall.» Is it the place to ride out the zombie apocalypse? Maybe! The food court is on the second floor and plenty lively, it’s also bright and pleasant. However, I didn’t go there for lunch! So I quickly skipped past that bit. The mall has a kind of 1970’s feel, what with the letter font, and non-​digital elevator numerals that actually flip over, like an old-​time alarm clock. Now, how could it possibly get more exciting than that? Well, let me tell you. I was able to admire this awesome Buffalo sculpture just down from the food court. Ol’ Buff was displayed in a huge room, and roped off like a VIP member! So, I stood there and took in the gloriousness. as long as I wanted. because no one was blocking my view! But of course, all good things must come to an end, so I made my way to the first floor via the analog elevator. Now, on to the first floor. Quite a few vacant shops (but some places hanging on, a shoe shop, and a dollar store). The cheapie in me wanted to check out the dollar store, but I was afraid it would be just another dollar store, and I wouldn’t be able to find any weird goodies. Next time! I noted approvingly the time it took me to traverse the place (and thought it would make a great addition to Mall Walker’s repetoire). Until I go again, I will dream of being a developer and turning the unused space into a library-​skating rink-​indoor track-​school-​snack bar!

I had to run an errand downtown and decided to park in the parking garage underneath the «mall» (mistake, HUGE mistake). After my quick errand, I figured I’d look around before heading to my car. Yeah… ummmm, no. I was afraid in the parking garage, I was afraid in the «mall»…I was just afraid. Sketchy people walking around, and they all give you the «eyeball», as if they were deciding if you are worth robbing. The place is empty and practically abandoned… except of course for the sketchy individuals. Let’s just say, I didn’t stay long. Walking to my car, I held my keys in a way I could quickly stab anyone who got in my way, and I RAN to my car. Nope, nope, NOPE.

The Main Place Mall is alive and in need for some spirit. I come here often for lunch, picking from an assortment of about 7 different take out places in their food court. Come lunch time, this mall is packed with people trying to find the perfect bit to meet their mid day hunger. I love coming here to see the liveliness of lunch. However, post lunch, when I use this mall to cut from Main St. to Pearl, it lacks luster. There are a few stores, including Payless, Footlocker, GMC, and a few independently owned clothing stores.
One of my favorite places here is the coffee shop, the Coffee Roastery. It is located right on Main St., so you can enter from either the mall or Main. I highly recommend ALL of their coffee flavor shots, and their iced teas.
Cannot wait to see what is in store for the Main Place Mall. Downtown desperately needs some retail shops for the growing population, and this is the perfect spot to host them!

#Ratchet
I now remember why I never came back here after my first experience. Worst mall around the surrounding area. For being in downtown Buffalo and having so many people down here Monday — Friday you think they would put in some decent store.
Main Place Mall lacked stores and the people in them. Only positive about this place is, it has an O.K. food court in it, if you need lunch and work downtown. Main Place Mall has a unique feeling to it when you first walk in. I never knew a mall could make me feel like I was in the ghetto over on the East side.
The space has a lot of potentional to thrive in the location it is at, they need to put in some decent stores that people have actually heard of. I am all for locally owned businesses in Buffalo but the stores in there now are not doing anyone or downtown any good. I would come here over the Galleria because of the convinence and time I would save driving all the way to Cheektwaga, but this place need some major improvments.

This is not even a mall at all. There are a lot of empty store spaces, as a lot of stuff has closed. Its really only convenient for people working in the surrounding buildings downtown. There are a lot of sketchy characters in that mall lurking around during the day.
Only partially decent thing is the food court, otherwise this place doesn’t have much to offer. And by partially decent, I mean if you are downtown in that area and don’t have time to venture anywhere, there are some options that’ll do the job.

Not a mall, but a food court during work week. It don’t even open in the weekend.

Yes, this place is called a «mall». There is a food court, a shoe repair shop, Payless, a «Made In Buffalo» store and 3 Footlockers – regular, kids and ladys. WTF?! 3 Footlockers and no other stores? There’s not even a drug store.
It’s empty, scary and silent.