Broadway Market Save-A-Lot Prepares to Close After Landlord Fails to Pay Rent

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Ben, a Save-A-Lot shopper, came to Broadway Market Tuesday expecting the grocery chain to be open.

“I got here and the doors were temporarily closed,” Ben said. “And I wanted to get some snacks.”

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On the front door, a handwritten sign reads: “Sorry for the inconvenience. Closed.” A sign beyond it says the store is only open between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The shelves and the store are almost empty.

“There are people with families who need to come pick up things and depend on this store,” Ben said.

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About 10 minutes after arriving at Save-A-Lot, 7 News saw a handful of people walk up to the front doors and encounter a sign that said “closed.”

7 News tried to contact Horrigan on Tuesday but did not hear back.

“I’m not going to allow my constituents to be fooled. The fact is, if you’re not going to have operations, if you can’t make the numbers work, if you can’t find appropriate financing to address your concerns about staying in place for the duration of your lease, then we’re going to part ways,” said Fillmore District Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski.

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Nowakowski said the Broadway Market property manager — who did not respond to 7 News’ request for comment — is trying to find ways to save the grocery store.

“But it seems like the owner just doesn’t want to stay there in good faith,” Nowakowski said.

He added that the store was about $60,000 behind on rent and that the landlord had not yet properly notified the city of its departure from the market.

“I want my constituents to know that I have no pleasure or desire for them to lose something they already have. But I do know that the city’s market manager could develop a plan for that space and put it out to bid again for a new vendor to come in and take it,” Nowakowski said.

In the meantime, for these buyers, this closure is a hard blow.

“A woman with children came there, either asking for food or baby supplies, and it’s horrible,” Ben said.