PHOTOS: Upward Niagara Chamber hosts ribbon-cuttings for Blue Cave restaurant, Niagara Emporium Antique Mall

by jmaloni

Fri, Nov 21st 2025 02:15 pm

Blue Cave

The Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed Blue Cave restaurant to Lewiston, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Thursday at 810 Center St.

To celebrate this special occasion, Chamber members, Blue Cave family and friends were invited to a private tasting featuring a selection of chef Mario Bianca’s signature dishes, including house-made pasta, braciole and unique appetizers.

“Blue Cave opened up March 19, 2025. They were previously in Buffalo – since 2022 – and they were very excited to come back towards their home town,” Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce President Amanda Haseley said.

“We’re very glad to have you in our Village of Lewiston,” Mayor Anne Welch said. “I’m very excited about this, and I hoping that you do very well here.”

Assemblyman Angelo Morinello said, “I just want everyone to understand: The quality of cooking and the menu you’re going to get is like nothing you’ve ever had.”

He added, “Mario brings his expertise straight from Sicily. I’m a Sicilian. He’s a Sicilian. So, we have certain pride in our food.”

“I love this little city!” Bianca said.

Prior to opening, the chef said his goal was to show people “the real Italian food.”

That would mean less of American-ized dishes such as fettucine Alfredo and chicken parmigiana; and more in the way of branzino (Mediterranean sea bass), homemade ravioli, and lobster pasta.

••••••••

The Upward Niagara Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Niagara Emporium Antique Mall.

Niagara Emporium Antique Mall

On Friday morning, the Upward Niagara Chamber hosted a ribbon-cutting for the Niagara Emporium Antique Mall expansion, situated at the foot of the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, USA.

“The expansion brings more than 28,000-square-feet of retail space, taking over the former Shoe Dept. Encore location,” Haseley said.

The site showcases more than 125 vendors offering a wide assortment of collectibles, video games, home décor and furniture.

Fashion Outlets General Manager John Doran said, “As anyone probably knows, times are tough these days – and finding good, quality, local tenants is not easy. Well, we stumbled onto one of the best. Krystian and his staff have transformed this end of the shopping center to a very unique and exciting retail experience. We couldn’t be more thrilled than to have the Niagara Emporium Antique Mall at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls.”

Owner Krystian Brewer said, “Thank you, John, and the staff at the Fashion Outlets Mall, for giving us the opportunity to grow – and be able to supply a home to a lot of people (vendors) that didn’t have places to go. Also, thank you to all our vendors and supporters along the way that have come and made the hike out here. We look forward to the future, and look forward to growing.”

Niagara Emporium Antique Mall is located at 2016 Military Road, Niagara Falls.