Neighborhoods  /  North Buffalo

North Buffalo continues as an organizational home for several congregations even if its Jewish enterprise heyday has faded. In popular memory, Hertel Avenue stands out as a center of Jewish commercial activity and a culinary hub that was most active from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Overview

From Mastman’s to Blitzer’s to Kornmehl Kosher Meat Market, North Buffalo is most associated with the names of specific businesses and iconic images associated with them including The Sample. For every living need, from wallpaper to paints, from hardware to appliances, clothes, shoes and books, as well as a whole range of services, it seemed all you had to do was walk out your door and visit someone in the neighborhood. Alongside this commercial activity and vibrant service economy, former residents remember the proximity of synagogues and Jewish institutions, including the Jewish War Veterans and credit unions. 

Contribute to this page

 We are compiling a research listing of Jewish businesses in order to create a resource guide to the Jewish commercial and culinary history of North Buffalo. Please help us compile this and locate documents and images. You can fill in a Jewish Business form here and if you have materials you can upload here.

Contribute to this page

We are actively searching for information about credit unions, and synagogue materials and memorabilia from Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz, Brith Sholem, Brith Israel-Anshe Ames and New Israel. If you have materials and you like to help, you can upload them here.

North Buffalo Location Map

Articles

Gallery

Blitzer’s Grocers June 2, 1957

Kadimah Bus

Saranac Synagogue, Menorah Image

Saranac Synagogue, Menorah Image

Saranac Synagogue, Rear View

Saranac Synagogue, Rear View

Saranac Synagogue, Star of David Entranceway

Saranac Synagogue, Star of David Entranceway

Saranac Synagogue, Alternative View

Saranac Synagogue, Alternative View

Saranac Synagogue, Side View

Saranac Synagogue, Side View

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone Hebrew Text

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone Hebrew Text

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone, 1951

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone, 1951

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Star of David

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Star of David

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Side View

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Side View

Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue

Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue

Rabbi Isaac Klein

Rabbi Isaac Klein

Temple Emanu-el, 1947

Temple Emanu-el, 1947

Anshe Ames Photograph of Plaque

Anshe Ames Photograph of Plaque