Shoppers at this thrift shop know their money is going to a good cause: "Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled" is the acronym of the charitable organization that runs it. Though prices here are among the best you'll find at any local secondhand shop, the selection at LADD — which consists of the usual thrift-store fare such as books, kitchenware, toys, Franklin Mint-style decorative knickknacks, and above all, clothes — is usually unimpressive. It's worth trying your luck, though: interesting items do happen along occasionally. If you see something you like, don't delay, because good stuff goes quickly.
Mon-Thu Sat 10AM-3PM
The South Buffalo satellite location of Public Espresso at the Shea's Seneca building offers basically the same sort of eating and drinking experience as the downtown one: drip and pour-over coffee made from ethically-sourced beans, bursting with nuanced natural flavors; an impressive range of baked goods crowned by Buffalo's best homemade vegan doughnuts; sandwiches, breakfast options, and other light fare. But the ambience starkly different, eschewing the trendy hipster vibes for those of a 1950s diner, with checkerboard floors, decorative neon signs, and midcentury-inspired furnishings. And feel free to direct the nostalgic Gen Xer in your crowd to the gift shop, replete with Star Wars and other 1980s throwback merch.
Mon-Fri 7AM-4PM, Sat-Sun 8AM-3PM
Located in the beautifully remodeled Shea's Seneca building, Bottle Rocket is part beer store, part chilled-out, hipster-friendly watering hole pouring a constantly changing selection of craft beers. There are eight on tap at any given time, including a few local beers but emphasizing diverse and interesting selections from craft breweries around the East Coast that you won't necessarily find elsewhere in Buffalo. The centerpiece of the place is an enormous 84-inch flat-screen TV, which, when it's not tuned to the big game or blaring classic rock standards, is put to use for the video game tournaments the place hosts from time to time.
Located in the beautifully remodeled Shea's Seneca building, Bottle Rocket is part bar, part South Buffalo's answer to Village Beer Merchant. Here you can pick up four- or six-packs (or mix-and-match if you like) of a changing variety of craft beers sold out of a couple of vintage wooden bookcases and an old locker (repurposed from the defunct Public School 77 on the West Side) in a corner of the room. As with the selections at the bar, locally-brewed beers are largely eschewed in favor of harder-to-find options sourced from breweries elsewhere — so if you're on the hunt for something obscure, put this place on your list.
Sun Mon noon-6PM, Thu Fri 5PM-midnight, Sat noon-midnight