How This Retro Cafeteria Became a Launchpad for Buffalo’s Food Entrepreneurs

Summary

When Paul returned to upstate New York to join his family’s real estate business, he didn’t plan on launching a shared-use kitchen. Let alone one in a former General Motors training facility. But today, Clarence Creative Kitchen—a vibrant, mid-century modern space in Buffalo, NY—is one of his proudest projects. “That’s life. You never know exactly what’s gonna happen or where you’re gonna end up. If you’d asked me 10 years ago what I’d be doing, I never would’ve guessed I’d be running a ghost kitchen.” Courtesy of Clarence Creative Kitchen A Cafeteria, a Concept, and a Chance The building that houses Clarence Creative Kitchen was originally constructed in the 1960s as a GM training center. It has the bones of a school: red quarry tile floors, beige ceramic walls, an auditorium for presentations, and a large kitchen that once served students lined up with trays. Stephen Development, the real estate firm founded by Paul’s father and uncle, bought the building during the pandemic. It was meant to be headquarters—warehouse space for their vehicle fleet, offices, storage. But that long-dormant kitchen? It sparked an idea. “It looked just like every elementary school kitchen—metal serving window and all. But it was structurally sound. So we thought… what if we brought it up to code and gave it a new life?” Courtesy of Clarence Creative Kitchen They did just that. With some key upgrades—a commercial hood, fire suppression system, and health department licensure—the space transformed into a certified commissary kitchen. What started as an adaptive reuse project quickly became a grassroots hub for food entrepreneurs in Buffalo. “We launched without a name, no marketing budget—just word of mouth. Then we started upgrading: added a dishwasher, mixers, walk-in coolers. Eventually, we launched our Instagram.” From Passion Project to Platform for Growth Paul refers to the kitchen as his “baby.” Though it’s only a small slice of Stephen Development’s overall portfolio, he spends m...