Buffalo's West Side Bazaar Seeks Community Help After Cold-Weather Damage

Burst pipes and heating failures cause over $10,000 in repairs at the small business incubator

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Buffalo's West Side Bazaar, a small business incubator, is facing over $10,000 in repairs after weeks of extreme cold weather caused heating failures, burst pipes, and cracked toilets. Management is keeping the bazaar open while asking the community to donate online and continue supporting its local businesses by eating and shopping there.

Why it matters

The West Side Bazaar is an important community hub that supports small, minority-owned businesses in Buffalo. The damage caused by the cold weather threatens the operations and viability of these local enterprises, underscoring the challenges that small businesses face in the face of extreme weather events.

The details

The West Side Bazaar, a small business incubator in Buffalo, has suffered over $10,000 in damages due to the recent extreme cold weather. The cold temperatures caused the bazaar's heating system to fail, leading to burst pipes and cracked toilets. Management is working to keep the bazaar open while appealing to the community for financial support to cover the repair costs.

  • The cold-weather damage occurred over the past several weeks.

The players

West Side Bazaar

A small business incubator in Buffalo that supports local, minority-owned enterprises.

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What’s next

The West Side Bazaar is asking the community to donate online and continue supporting its small businesses by eating and shopping there while the repairs are underway.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the vulnerability of small businesses, especially those in the service industry, to the impacts of extreme weather events. The community's support will be crucial in helping the West Side Bazaar and its tenants weather this challenge and continue serving the local area.