Save-A-Lot owner asks city for money amid closure, customers voice concerns

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Customers of Broadway Market's Save-A-Lot were greeted with a locked door and a piece of computer paper signifying the store's closure on Wednesday.

Customers and Fillmore District Buffalo Common Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski are fed up, and the owner isn’t confident the open sign will come back unless the city cuts him a check.

“They should try to work something out, but if he’s being ridiculous, leave him alone, get somebody else,” said Save-A-Lot regular Orin Holliday. “But if he’s fair and square, help him stay.”

Store owner Ronald Horrigan is $60,000 behind in rent and recently closed up shop. He said a spike in shoplifting since the pandemic is to blame.

Horrigan said the the only way to make it work is if the City of Buffalo steps in.

“The city doesn't have much money either, so I mean, I'm sure they can find what I'm looking for if they really wanted to,” he said. 

Nowakowski disputed Horrigan's reason for closing — alleged thefts — in an interview with News 4 last month. At the time, Nowakowski said the market hadn't notified the city of its plans to close or communicated what it needs to keep the business alive.

Since the city approved a $500,000 forgivable loan for the struggling downtown Braymiller Market last year, Horrigan believes he should be considered for something similar. 

“I'm looking for about three-quarters of what Braymiller got,” he said.

Nowakowski pointed out that the Braymiller loan was issued using leftover COVID relief money.

Horrigan and Nowakowski do agree on one thing: they're not confident in Save-A-Lot’s future.

“The city, the market manager, hasn't been in discussions with him, but they’ve kind of fizzled out, so that's why, at this point, I really want to cut the nonsense out,” Nowakowski said. “If you want to leave, please notify the City of Buffalo of your departure and we’ll move forward.”

Broadway Fillmore residents said they want more options for affordable groceries in their neighborhood and how the uncertainty of Save-A-Lot's future isn't helping to fix that problem. 

“As long as they give us a market, or give those a market that have no way to a market, let somebody else come,” Save-A-Lot customer Helen Kirksey said. “If he don’t want to pay then he can’t stay.”