Niagara’s Shadow City
Niagara Falls, N.Y. is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States, with recent reports indicating almost 9.5 million visitors in 2023. With such great tourism comes a significant amount of revenue.
According to the New York State - Comissioned Tourism Economics research study, in 2023 visitors spent $1.082 billion in Niagara County.
However, there is a solemn reminder of neglect sitting right in the middle of Niagara Falls - Main Street.
Main Street once was one of the city’s most popular commercial districts. It was once booming with local storefronts and high amounts of foot traffic. In the late 1990’s, several small businesses closed and they are still empty buildings to this day.
Main Street in Niagara Falls, NY has countless empty store fronts with boarded up windows and gaping holes in the ceilings unfit for any business, photographed on Feb 1, 2025.
Archival photograph of Jenss Department Store provided by Discover Niagara.
Discover Niagara wrote, “The Jenss Department Store building, located at 1708 Main Street, in Niagara Falls, New York, was built in 1916 by the Jenss family. The Jenss Department Store saw decades of prosperity as a hub for shopping and community activity, and was an anchor in the booming and vibrant commercial district that the North End was known for. The Jenss Department store ultimately closed their Main Street location in 1995, along with the long stretch of Main Street businesses that succumbed to city-wide economic decline and urban renewal, leaving Main Street void of commercial activity.”
The old Jenss Department Store building located across the historic Rapids Theatre photographed on Nov. 22, 2024 in Niagara Falls, NY. There are many murals on the historic department store painted by Niagara Falls Heritage Arts, the public art initiative of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area.
“What was before could be again” is written on many of the abandoned historic Main Street buildings in Niagara Falls, NY photographed on Jan. 26, 2025.
Two historic small businesses are the last ones still standing among the array of desolation, The Book Corner and B&B Cigar Store.
The Book Corner
The Book Corner has been a small business in Niagara Falls, NY since 1927. The store was established by Marie Fleming, a Canadian woman. The Book Corner was originally situated on First Street, a street that no longer exists anymore. The store later moved to Third Street and then again to Main Street, and Pete Morrow bought the business in the 60’s. The Book Corner is still owned by the Morrow family to this day.
The 10,000 sq ft. book store has three stories full of packed book shelves and community rooms. The store is almost like a maze. You almost forget that this lively and colorful store is situated on the mundane Main Street. The Book Corner is a shining treasure to the city of Niagara Falls, NY.
“The Book Corner is such, like, a niche little spot that's hidden downtown. Unless you're a local you wouldn't know about it.”
— Mia, regular customer
Jeff Morrow took over his father’s business in 2001 and has been the owner now for 24 years. Jeff spent his childhood in his father’s book store and around the city of Niagara Falls, specifically Main Street. “I feel, as a city, we need to worry about down by the falls. We don’t need to worry about Main Street. See, if we could have down by the falls more attractive, we’d be able to get people to stay on our side.” Jeff says, “Remember, when people come to visit, they stay on the Canadian side. There’s stuff there. Remember, the money comes from the falls”
Jeffrey Morrow, The Book Corner owner, stands amongst rows of book shelves reflected by the mirror ceiling in Niagara Falls, NY on Feb. 1, 2025.
B&B Cigar Store
B&B Cigar Store has been a Main Street staple in Niagara Falls, NY for 130 years. It is one of the oldest cigar stores in the city. The original owners were Niagara Falls natives, the Battaglia family. Fred Stempien has been the owner of B&B Cigar Store for 40 years now.
The store used to sell cigars, newspapers, tobacco and candy but ever since 9/11, imports from Canada have decreased and Fred’s big seller has turned to lottery tickets.
Archival photograph of Sam and Josephine Battaglia at B&B Cigar Store on Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY provided by Buffalo Stories.
“I don’t even need to do it financially, I just want to be here.”
— Fred Stempein, owner of B&B Cigar Store
All of Fred’s customers at B&B Cigar Store are regulars. Coming to B&B Cigar Store to get a lottery ticket, picking the Niagara Gazette, or a pack of cigarettes is part of their everyday routine. Most of the time regulars just go to the B&B to chat with Fred. This store means so much to the surrounding neighborhoods, it brings a sense of community to a strip that has been severely neglected. Fred says, “My customers are all regulars. I know exactly what to grab them when they walk in. It’s the ones I don’t know that would scare me.”
When asked what Fred would hope for for the future of Main Street, he said, “Why not make the abandoned buildings student housing? Apartments? Maybe they just need to be torn down. In the time I have been here (40 years), nothing has happened.”
There has been recent talk of a reimagining of Main Street through the use of The Tourism Fund, but the longer these historic neglected buildings sit vacant…
…the more that tension builds.
