Since purchasing Half & Half Clothing from its original owners, Debbie and Bill Sidel, in 2016, the Bronstein family has managed to keep a beloved shopping tradition alive – and thriving – in Buffalo. In a day and age when online shopping continues to surge, and consumers are shifting from “wants” to “needs,” focusing more on necessities due to high inflation fatigue, brick and mortar retail shops have got to be at the top of their game in order to succeed.
Over the course of the last decade, the Bronsteins have not only invested in Half & Half Boutique, they have also invested in the neighborhood. Those investments include restoration of the building, the purchase and restoration of a neighboring building (now home to Tipico Café), the creation of a mural by street artist Chris Piontkowski, the addition of a sculpture bust by David Derner, and the restoration of the phases of the moon neon public work of art, which was dormant for years. These types of crucial financial infusions into the Elmwood Village by an independent retailer is very rare. To celebrate a ten year milestone is also a significant achievement. To do it all with the utmost class and grace says everything that you need to know about the Bronsteins, and their business ethics.
“Celebrating 10 years of Half & Half Boutique in Buffalo is incredibly meaningful to me, not just as a business milestone, but as a reflection of the community that has supported us from the very beginning,” said co-owner and matriarch of the family, Jennifer Bronstein, who owns the shop with her daughter Kilby. “Opening our first store in Elmwood Village—my hometown—was always something deeply personal, and to see it grow into what it is today has been truly special.
“Being a small business in Buffalo means so much more than just retail. It’s about connection, collaboration, and community. Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to partner with so many amazing local businesses and charitable organizations, creating experiences that go far beyond shopping. That sense of support and shared energy is what makes Buffalo so unique.
“This city has given us the foundation to grow, evolve, and expand in ways I could have never imagined. And through it all, our goal has always been to make Half & Half more than just a store—to create a beautiful, welcoming space that people feel inspired walking into. We’re so grateful to Elmwood Village and the entire Buffalo community for being such an important part of our journey.”…