Jefferson Ave, Fruit Belt

Jefferson avenue runs from downtown buffalo on out to the suburbs.

I am a middle aged woman and i remember when jefferson avenue was the "inner city" (a place that marvin gaye named his "inner city blues" song about) a place where "coloreds" lived. I didn't realize then that "coloreds" had homes, families and lives just like we did.

Like any inner city street in any mid sized city in the united states, jefferson avenue saw a downturn in the 60's and 70's. Then came grass roots organization of people (sometimes lots, sometimes just two or three) who worked harder than most people to bring back the Jefferson Avenue of their youth. There was alot of work to be done. They planted trees, renovated or had buildings torn down. In most instances they had to fight with City Hall every step of the way.

Jefferson Avenue still has it's problems as most inner city streets do, but it has a certain flavor now, a certain pride and more than a few flourishing stores and homes on and off of this proud street. Rock on!

I grew up on the inner city streets of Buffalo and every Sunday my brother, cousin and me would go on Jefferson to the Apollo Theater and watch a movie. I saw a lot of Bruce Lee Flicks there and I remember seeing ET for the first time there. They have renovated the old theater and now it a church a very nice church I might add. They have also built a supermarket right on Jefferson, which I thought I would never see. Jefferson was home of the old War Memorial stadium where the movie The natural starring Robert Redford was filmed. They have demolished that as well and there is now a great football field there for the schools. I am really impressed with the changes that we're made to Jefferson Ave. I don't mind traveling there for a visit.