El Buen Amigo

Not your typical store. I've been stopping in at El Buen Amigo infrequently for the past 10 years or so. Santiago, the guy who runs the place, is very friendly and welcoming. If you're new to Buffalo, he'll give you a map and point out places of interest. If he has food around, he'll offer it. And, of course, he's more than willing to tell you about the products and that they are produced by Latin American artisans.

Recently (probably because of Santiago's welcoming attitude) I've started hanging out there. El Buen Amigo is a great place to just chill or work on crafts or help out. It's more like a small community than just a store. The art, sweaters, jewelry, Spanish classes, dance classes, musical instruments, jewelry, bowls, toys, mirrors, and more seem like the backdrop for the community. Of course, though, Santiago's intent, with this store, is to spread the wealth to the less fortunate. The wealth that he spreads, however, is far more than financial. It's his sense of community that we can use the most.…