The former home of Realm has been occupied by Jack’s Corner Café. The café, owned and operated by Leah Alles and Joseph Diaz Aleman, initially opened across the street at 111 Genesee Street (corner of Genesee and Oak). I posted about the operation in March of 2022, upon which time I wrote, “When Leah Alles and Joseph Diaz Aleman first opened their dream café (and side cart) on a Caribbean island named Vieques (off Puerto Rico’s eastern coast), they never could have imagined what was in store for them. First it was a hurricane, and then it was the pandemic. Their business, Rising Roost, was one of the only café offerings of the island of 7000 people. Their business was almost completely tourist-driven, which all but dried up after the two tragic occurrences.”
Subsequently, downtown Buffalo was blessed with their presence in the form of a café that specializes in espresso drinks, all day breakfast including a slamming breakfast burrito, along with other fan favorites such as churro toast, steel cut oats, a bean burger, tuna melt, chicken salad, fresh juices (cold pressed red and orange juice), and bubbly mimosas.
The strategic move to 130 Genesee Street has allowed the café to double its kitchen size and add more seating, which is a great sign for this business that continues to invest in downtown Buffalo.
Fortunately, the owners found another corner in close proximity to their original location. That should please their fanbase. Also, there was no need to alter the name of the business, which is a “corner stone” of the neighborhood…