L.L. Berger Dept. Store / The Belesario

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Photo credit: David Torke, fixBuffalo, and RCS Architecture

Location

500 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
Google Bird's Eye View
Ellicott Council District
SBL: 111.46-10-2.11
Erie County Property Info
County Tax Map (loads GIS page)
City of Buffalo Parcel Viewer

Adjacent to: 496 Main Street
Across from: 529 Main Street, 535 Main Street and 537 Main Street, and

the Genesee Hotel Building, where its addition blocks Genesee Street

Owner

Carl Paladino, Ellicott Development
1239 GROUP LLC per City of Buffalo Property Information
Search NYS Corporation Database for 1239 GROUP

Carl and William Paladino's company, Ellicott Development, or corporations it controls: (Ellicott Group LLC, Pearl Group LLC, Huron Group Inc, Tupper Group Inc, Deltup LLC, Del-Al LLC, 84 Group, 1238 Group, 1239 Group, 4858 Group, 5277 Group, 9274 Group, etc.), owns these buildings or parcels of preservation concern (not a complete list):

Saint Paul Mall, 61 Edna Place, Crosby Building, 514 South Park Avenue, 619 West Delavan Avenue, 621 West Delavan Avenue, 878 Elmwood Avenue, 1050 Niagara Street, 1076 Genesee Street, 1173 East Lovejoy Street, 1175 East Lovejoy Street, 1179 East Lovejoy Street, 172 Franklin Street, 176 Franklin Street, 189 Saint James Place, 206 Ontario Street, Deck Bros. Building, 262 Ohio Street, Karle Saw Co., 809 Tonawanda Street, 85 East Market Street, 905 Elmwood Avenue, Baker’s Shoes Building, The Bellesara / Allentown Athletic, E&B Holmes Machinery Company, Edmiston's Academy of Business, Ellicott Square Building, Fairmont Creamery, Fire House Chemical No. 3, Fire House Engine No. 8, Gohn’s Place / Delaware House, Graystone Hotel / Berkeley Apartments, Grimm Block, Harbor Inn, Hens & Kelly Department Store, Holy Angels Academy, Jansen Brothers Harness Shop, Kaleida Health Facility (on Main), Meldrum-Edwards Building / The Antonio, Neisner Bros., Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Rectory and School, Pleu Building, Seneca Plumbing & Heating Supply, 190 South Park Avenue, Swan Ramp, Vars Building, Weed Co. Wholesale Building, GLF Elevator, (Original) Y.M.C.A. / Y.W.C.A. Building,

You can also view this list at Ellicott's category page.

Physical Description

Four adjacent brick commercial buildings in a three to eight story, 106,000 sq.ft. complex

Current Condition

Renovated into apartments

History

  • 1902 - Louis L. Berger partnered with brother-in-law Isaac Given to start his women’s clothing shops in Ohio
  • 1905 - L.L. Berger department store opens at 500 Main Street
  • 1929 - The company expands into its flagship store at 514 Main Street
  • 1953 - The first suburban branch opened in 1953. The company continued opening locations in WNY until 1989.
  • 1967 - Louis Berger dies
  • 1991 - The company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Recent Events and Actions Taken

  • 1998 - Landmark Development of Cleveland selected as the designated developer
  • 1999 - Landmark replaced with Carl Paladino as designated developer
  • 1999 - Paladino threatens demolition of the southern portion of the complex for empty green space
  • 2004 - $6 million renovation into 29 apartments plus office space. It does not involve any demolition, as originally planned, but has no first floor retail either.

Other Pertinent Facts

Links


Newest Pages

■ St. Rose of Lima School ■ 1291 Main Street ■ 22 Chateau Terrace ■ 807 Clinton Street ■ 250 Richmond Avenue ■ Liberty Tailors ■ 1966 Niagara Street ■ 1942 Niagara Street ■ 1930 Niagara Street ■ 2018 Main Street, Niagara Falls NY 14305 ■ 1940 Niagara Street ■ 1932 Niagara Street ■ 1035 Jefferson Avenue ■ 701 Third Street, Niagara Falls ■ The Turtle - Native American Center for the Arts ■ Nabisco Elevator, Niagara Falls ■ 945 Washington Street ■ 941 Washington Street ■ 931 Washington Street ■ 929 Washington Street ■ 927 Washington Street ■ Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House ■ 1681 Main Street ■ 1215 Niagara Street ■ 882 West Avenue ■ 878 West Avenue ■ 29 Minton Street ■ Paramount Lodge ■ 21 Anderson Place ■ 2505 Main Street

Added 2013-09-16 • Last changed 2016-10-26

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