A New Era for Fitz Books & Waffles Begins Today on Buffalo’s Main Street

Aaron Bartley (Photo by Benjamin Joe)

Aaron Bartley, owner of Fitz Books & Waffles — which until recently was located downtown on Ellicott Street in a space that boasted new and used books from floor to ceiling and a legion of loyal customers — is a well-known activist in the city who’s committed to the idea of building strong neighborhoods.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Bartley co-founded the Buffalo nonprofit ‘People United for Sustainable Housing’ — aka PUSH — with a focus on organizing West Side residents to improve employment opportunities, housing and other neighborhood conditions.

So, when it came time to open his own small business after a career in the non-profit sector, it was no surprise that Bartley’s approach — (besides coupling his love of books with what he learned from his mother who ran her own small floral business) — included not only a sense of purpose but community as well.

A few months ago, however, his popular space on Ellicott was retrofitted for condominiums by its landlord, forcing Bartley to find a new home for his business and its devoted following. He decided upon 1462 Main Street as the new location for his store, where Fitz Books & Waffles will be holding its official “soft opening” from noon to 6 p.m. today.

“I like this location. I like the amount of public transportation. The (Utica) subway station is pretty much across the street. It has probably one of the most packed bus lines in Buffalo,” Bartley said. “I started noticing (this) energy on Main Street for the first time. I decided to give it a go.”

In leading up to today’s opening Bartley has hosted a few public events as he prepared

People gather for a recent poetry reading at Fitz Books & Waffles (photo by Benjamin Joe)

to bring his massive collection of books into the space — an inventory that includes books big and small, common and rare, poetry and non-fiction, as well as $1 books and $20 pieces of vinyl.

“Since we started four or five years ago, I was really inspired to have a space,” for neighbors and visitors to gather and socialize, Bartley said. So, “not only are there literary events, poetry events and author events, there are art and cultural events, community meetings and individual connections being made here.”

Bartley still must obtain permits for food and drink, which he said are forthcoming. Plans for the new location also include an area for people to enjoy a café atmosphere while reading, and a patio in the back where lawn games can be played.

“We’re just going to be ‘Fitz Books’ for now, but there will be food and drink soon,” he said as he worked on treating the floorboards at the shop recently.

While the size and dimension of the new space attracted Bartley, what else appealed to him is the store’s proximity to a neighborhood that is often left behind — something he hopes to help change.

Bartley — who lived in University Heights as a child and went to school on East Ferry Street — noted the history of the area, describing the block as being “one of the most culturally important spaces of Buffalo” during the late 70s and early 80s.

“Things like the Ujima Theatre. Dance companies. Something called Starship Enterprises, which is like Squeaky Wheel,” he said, fondly recalling the neighborhood. “They were all here on this corner. I caught a little of that in my memories.”