Lawmakers asking for Braymiller loan money back

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo lawmakers are asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans they gave to Braymiller Market, following the announcement that the store will close.

Last year, the Buffalo Common Council gave the downtown market $560,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. A requirement of the loan was to stay open for two years following the bailout, which did not happen. A second employment threshold was met, though.

"There's still money that the city gave out that we need to recoup something needs to be a plan. And so I'll be asking about that every two weeks until I hear what the plan is," Ellicott District Council member Leah Halton-Pope said. "There's still a need for a grocery store for people to have fresh food, fruits and vegetables and access to quality foods that they can afford."

Once Braymiller closes its doors, the Urban Renewal Agency's loan committee will make a decision on whether the market will need to repay the city.

The 201 Ellicott St. project was a signature part of former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown’s economic agenda for downtown Buffalo. It was also part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s five-year affordable housing plan. City officials announced earlier this month that the store would close after three years in business.

Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon said during the announcement that he would work with grocers, federal and state officials about bringing a new grocery store downtown. The land on Ellicott Street will be put into public use.