New Financial Firms Celebrate Grand Opening in Historic Genesee Gateway Building | Business

Over three hundred guests came out to celebrate the opening of Winthrop Financial, Inc. and Pratt Collard Advisory Partners in the Genesee Gateway building in downtown Buffalo last night.  The grand opening party was themed “Everything Old is New Again,” to mark the long-awaited renovation and revitalization of the historic building and a new beginning for the financial firms. Over three hundred guests came out to celebrate the opening of Winthrop Financial, Inc. and Pratt Collard Advisory Partners in the Genesee Gateway building in downtown Buffalo last night. 

Several of the nearby businesses helped celebrate including the Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo, Seabar restaurant, Washington Market and Maureen's Flower Market.  Guests were invited  to tour the new Winthrop Financial and Pratt Collard office spaces, as well as older parts of the building that are currently undergoing renovation, including the space that houses the iconic waterfall window.

Winthrop Financial principals, Deborah Stauring and W. Lawrence Buck, and Pratt Collard principals, Matthew Collard and Michael Pratt, were formerly of Harold C. Brown & Co., a Buffalo-based investment advisory firm that recently closed after 80 years.  After choosing the Genesee Gateway building as the location for their new financial advisory firms, construction began in late 2011 on their office space.  While both firms have been open for business, their office spaces were  recently completed – just in time for the May grand opening. 

Both firms made staying in downtown Buffalo a priority.  The Genesee Gateway building had stood vacant and roofless for decades until its rehabilitation started 18 months ago.  The firms were attracted to being able to customize their office spaces in an iconic, landmark building and also becoming part of a Buffalo neighborhood that is experiencing a resurgence. 

"It’s an exciting time for downtown Buffalo and we want to be part of that revitalization. We loved the unique historic character of the Genesee Gateway building, and its visibility and easy accessibility for our clients," said Stauring. “We’re looking forward to our new business ventures and being part of the fabric of a dynamic neighborhood.”