The city of Buffalo once had a decent vintage clothing scene, but nowadays there are only a small handful of stores that cater to the retro crowd. So when a friend by the name of Fernando Ruiz suggested we visit the town of Tonawanda, to explore their retro-vintage shops, I was gone.
“As much as I wish to keep Tonawanda a secret… it’s great to share with others who love to wander for a beautiful discovery,†Fernando said. “Beautiful city with a big soul and a corner full of finds of vintage clothing, household items, creations of local artists… and a magnificent view of the river!â€
While I knew the Cats Like Us store was in business (I heard their commercials on Buffalo State University radio station WBNY), I have to admit I never stopped in person (shame , shame). The vintage store turned out to be one of the first stores on our list.
Upon entering we were greeted by store co-owner Julie Ann Davis (main picture), who began to tell us about her 12 years in business at 67 Main Street in Tonawanda. She also introduced us to the “retro block†that had bubbled up around her over the years.
“Cats Like Us started as the Retro Block Tonawanda anchor point at the corner of Main Street and Broad Street twelve years ago,†said Julie Ann. “Originally, we were planning to open on Hertel Ave, but the day we were going to sign the lease, a six-foot piece of the facade fell off the building and I took that as a sign that I had. need to find another location. While walking around the town of Tonawanda, I came across this space on the corner of Main Street. It is within walking distance of the Niagara River, several small parks with a great bike path and all the necessities of running a business. My bank, post office and auto repair shops are just a few stores away!
“Over the years we’ve seen companies come and go, but we finally have our niche. Stores like Sweet Heart PinUp Photography Studio specialize in vintage-inspired hairstyles, makeup and photos in one space, Atomic Barber Shop & Salon can make your rockabilly hair a reality, The Mulberry Tree an antique dealer on two floors will help you furnish your vintage home, Twin City Deli is an old-fashioned deli, and for dessert Hello Sweets will provide you with the classic sweets you loved as a kid. Most recently the Black Sheep Market and Oddities gift shop opened next door to us and they are big supporters of locally made gifts.
“At Cats Like Us, in addition to offering retro and vintage clothing and accessories for men and women, we have in-store events every month, whether it’s local retro artists, vintage demos, or support for artists. shelters for local animals. On the Retro Block you’ll find everything from antiques to today, but it will sure take you back to the 1940s-1960s. It really is Main Street USA!
Julie Ann inspired us to walk around in search of all the fabulous places she described. But before setting off on the adventure, she told us about Retro Block’s upcoming Rockabilly Garage Sale, which will be held on Sunday October 3 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature styles such as pin up, swing, rockabilly, gothabilly, tiki, atomic and everything in between. It will be a day dedicated to shops and vendors selling retro clothing, accessories and housewares for men and women. Now that sounds like a lot of fun.
As we walked and talked, Fernando and I started to appreciate the quirky shopping district we were discovering better. In fact, being an avid collector of retro clothing and bar items, Fernando was familiar with the various stores along the way. Although he’s relatively new to Buffalo, he immediately sought out these vintage outlets as a way to satisfy his clothing and mixology buying habits. Like for me? It had been a long time since I had immersed myself in such a shopping spree – it was almost overwhelming to see how many of these retro oases had sprung up.
Another of our first stops was to Black Sheep Market and Oddities, where Fernando picked up some Skeleton Keys to add to his collection. I scored a few “hang ten†island shirts at Cats Like Us, so I was pretty happy with our excursion so far.
Next, we ventured into The Mulberry Tree, where Peter Karlinski (that day’s trader) showed us his working vintage train set. We were blown away by Peter’s knowledge of trains – in particular, sale and repair of post-war Lionel trains and accessories. We spent a lot of time walking around the two story emporium, where I came across some retro glassware. But it was the train that captivated us the most. Peter demonstrated many different engines and cars, while blowing the train’s whistle for added effect. The milk car demonstration was also pretty cool. I strongly suggest stopping by for a demonstration.
Although he was not on our list of retro shops, we stopped by the Attic To Basement antique store, which is a huge store filled with all kinds of trinkets. I couldn’t believe how big the place was – it just kept going up further and further. It was more of a twisty scavenger hunt than any other place we had been – the store was divided into several sections such as used appliances, kitchenware, jewelry, glassware, furniture, and books. I managed to mark an interesting set of Johnny Walker tumblers – Fernando helped me identify the numbers on the glasses using a small magnifying glass (inset photo).
Seeing that we were not hungry, we were wrong not to stop Twin City Deli for a bite to eat, but we’ll definitely make sure we’re both hungry the next time we visit the Retro Block. While a sandwich wasn’t on the cards, a returning candy store was something we had to see. Hello Sweets turned out to be a delight. I couldn’t believe all the candy and soda from my youth, with lots of new surprises. I couldn’t help but buy a Chuckles and a Crunchie, which I both ate on our drive home. The stop at Hello Sweets was definitely the icing on the cake of our retro shopping getaway.
Tonawanda continues to surprise. From Dog Island to rails to trails… and now the Retro Block, I might have found one of my new favorite places to visit. If you’re thinking the same, then be sure to attend Retro Block’s next Rockabilly Garage Sale!
