Grant Street offers much to Buff State community

For most of my time at Buffalo State, the Grant Street area represented a place of danger and fear.

A late-night walk to my car in Lot M made my heart pound in my chest. The thought of ever walking down Grant Street by myself, even in broad daylight, was unthinkable. I figured I was fine sticking to my safe little Buffalo State campus.

When I was forced to get familiar with the West Side, including the Grant Street area, I realized just how much I had been missing. There's a whole culture of hopeful entrepreneurs and well-intentioned organizations that constantly strive to revitalize the area.

I was amazed the first time I explored the businesses on Grant Street, like the West Side Bazaar. I had heard about the store where immigrants, many of them refugees, sold their wares. There are dozens of adorable gift items, which include unique things like earrings made from the wood of a mango tree or porcupine quills, and a soup ladle made from a coconut. Not only does this merchandise make great gifts, it helps support people who have been less fortunate than us.

Guercio and Son's is an Italian specialty foods and imports store that's been a staple in the community for years. It reminds me of an old-school store that my family goes to in the city of Syracuse for fresh, cheap grated cheese and Jordan almonds for the holidays. It's a totally different experience from the chaos of the grocery stores we frequent, with that going-to-the-market feel. Not only does the store have Boar's Head deli meats for about six bucks a pound, but you can be sure you'll pay considerably less for produce than you would at Tops or Wegmans.

A lover of literature can have a heyday at West Side Stories, where every book is under $10. It's not exactly Barnes and Noble, but the owners are avid readers themselves and aim to stay current with the selection of literature they offer. Across the street from the bookstore is Sweetness 7 Cafe, which rivals the best coffee joint. Prices are reasonable enough to fit into the average college student's budget, and it might be a good choice for lunch for a change of pace from union food.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's surprised at what's available just a few blocks from campus. The area is so stigmatized that many students are afraid to cross the Grant Street threshold and go exploring.

But when it comes to where we're spending our money, why not invest it in a community that needs it, namely the one that encompasses our own school?

Julia Merulla can be reached by email at merulla.record@live.com.