Business View Civil and Municipal | September 2022

145 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 Cleveland, and parts of Canada for tournaments. When you are travelling with your whole family, what are you doing on your spare time when not attending a game? You’re out eating at their restaurants or visiting one of their attractions. In addition, you are staying at their hotels and gassing up at their gas stations. So overall you are spending your hard-earned dollars at the businesses in that community, and I viewed Shelly’s business the same way. These dogs are children to these people that are heavily involved in this type of activity. These are their hockey tournaments.” Premier has helped make Lancaster a destination for tourists, and businesses are seeing the benefit. “I have people come in from out of town for weekend shows and the next day they’ll say ‘Oh, I went to the greatest restaurant last night’,” Gordon explains. “We held a basset hound fundraiser at my building and we had 300 people and 200 basset hounds and we had so many people from out of town. The Vice President of the group said to me, ‘I took my mother in law to Ripa’s and she said it was the best Italian food she’s ever had in her life and she’s 80.’ And they go to Clarksburg Cider and they hang outside with their dogs. I just love hearing how my customers are exploring the town, and with all the new projects coming, we’ll have even more places to refer our customers to.” Many new businesses are taking advantage of the influx in tourists and residents, with unique offerings popping up all over town. A new 6,000 square-foot brewery and taproom is slated to open in late 2022. Brazen Brewing, LLC is a father and son venture that will employ four full-time and 10 part-time employees. “The brewery is a new type of business for the Town of Lancaster and will produce, sell and distribute their own personal brews,” Ruffino explains. “This is a much-needed service for the northern part of town and will complement the area.” The Lancaster Depew Elma Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer organization of business, professional, industrial, and community leaders working together to create and maintain an economically strong area. Join the Chamber at www.wnychamber.com 11 West Main, Suite 100 Lancaster, NY 14086 info@wnychamber.com | (716) 681-9755 Connecting People, Ideas and Resources INFORMATION • MARKETING • COMMUNITY BETTERMENT • NETWORKING LANCASTER , NEW YORK Ronald Ruffino, Lancaster’s Town Supervisor