Gary Risch looks at old photographs of his family's business, Risch's Market, which closed in 2007 after nearly 60 years of operation. Now Risch is poised to open a new restaurant, Garrett's Place, on the site near Route 228 in Buffalo Township.

BUFFALO TWP — Gary Risch pores through old photographs showing the beginnings of his family business along Route 356.

Risch's father, Ralph, opened Risch's Market in 1950.

A 60-year-old sepia photograph depicts the elder Risch's younger brother, Lee, as a boy sitting next to watermelons lined up outside the store.

Lee Risch later started Saxony House Furniture, which now has three outlets, including one in Sarver.

After decades of being part of the community, Risch's Market closed in January 2007.

Residents lamented the loss of the community staple.

“It was a sad day in Sarver,” said township Supervisor John Haven.

Now Gary Risch is poised to open a new restaurant, Garrett's Place, in the 20,000-square-foot building near Route 228 as part of ongoing business development in the township.

He named the new business after his 5-year-old grandson, Garrett.

Along with the restaurant's dining area, Risch will have an old-fashioned counter with a soda fountain as well as a cafe.

There also will be a gift shop and extra space available for small businesses to lease.

To celebrate the family oriented atmosphere, Risch will display portraits of families who have been in the township for generations.

In addition to a banquet room, Garrett's Place eventually will have a buffet in a back room.

Risch plans on opening the business in phases, with dining available this spring.

Garrett's Place will employ 30 to 40 workers, nearly double what the market staff was.

Township Supervisor Dan Przybylek, who spearheads development, said Risch's restaurant typifies the commercial enterprise sought in Buffalo: a family oriented business.

“He's retaining a piece of history,” Przybylek said.

He said people like Risch help spur Buffalo's growth during a bad economy.

“These aren't the greatest times to start a business,” Przybylek said.

He said Risch's business also fulfills another goal of township officials — having growth while preserving the township's rural character.

“Bringing in good businesses creates a tax base for people to live here,” Przybylek said.

He said the township is strategically located with three highways and bordered by two other counties, Allegheny and Armstrong.

“We're a gateway to Butler County,” Przybylek said.

Just as vital as converting existing businesses is drawing in new ones.

Mike Barbiaux of Arnold in Westmoreland County is one of Buffalo's new entrepreneurs.The 31-year-old recently opened the Evolution Grille in the South Pike Square shopping center off Route 356.After working for other people, Barbiaux eventually decided to be his own boss.“I was never completely happy with other people's food,” he said. “I knew I could make this food better.”When seeking a location for his restaurant, Barbiaux took notice of Buffalo.“It was a growing area,” he said.Unlike other businesses, Barbiaux intends to adapt to the tastes of his customers. He said menu items will be dropped if they don't appeal to patrons.Przybylek said innovative approaches such as the Evolution Grille are a major component to successful commercial growth.He said Risch and Barbiaux will appeal to different markets.“Both can find a niche and succeed,” Przybylek said.A major component of growth in Buffalo is a proposed business park on a 50-acre site at the intersection of Routes 28 and 356.The park would house a business incubator, which helps new companies survive and grow during their startup periods, run by Carnegie Mellon University.

Art Boni, CMU's director of the Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship, said the types of businesses cultivated would include manufacturing, biotechnology and nanotechnology.Boni said the idea is to not duplicate existing companies in the region, but complement them.The business incubator would link the new businesses to existing companies in the region.Boni cited the nearby Victory Road Business Park in Clinton Township as a possible area to make such links.“What are the opportunities?” he said, would be a question answered in conceptualizing the business park, which would include firms not created through the incubator.As with other business parks, there would be an anchor tenant.“What you're trying to create is a microcluster,” Boni said.Boni said the Buffalo site is ideal due to its proximity to Route 28 and the township's rural setting.He said the park would attract people wanting a certain lifestyle, working and living in a place like the township.Along with CMU staff, three of the university's graduate students are working on the project.Przybylek said a business park with an incubator will help Buffalo.“We need the jobs,” he said.Federal funds already have been designated for planning the project.U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire, D-4th, in February 2009 got $338,514 for the development of the park.Nearly $150,000 was given to CMU for its study in conceptualizing the park. The remainder is held by the county for necessary work, such as traffic and environmental studies.A developer is being courted to build out the site.“I'm excited,” Przybylek said about the prospect of the park coming to fruition.

<B>Buffalo TownshipMailing address:</B> 109 Bear Creek Road, Sarver, PA 16055<B>Telephone:</B> 724-295-2648<B>Fax:</B> 724-295-4004<B>E-mail:</B> treasure@zoominternet.net<B>Web site:</B> www.buffalotownship.com<B>Secretary:</B> Janice Humes-Zubrin<B>Supervisors:</B> Greg Furer, John Haven, Dan Przybylek, Gary Risch, Al Roenigk<B>Supervisors meeting:</B> 7:30 p.m. first Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of January; second and fourth Wednesday, February through May, September and October; second Wednesday, June through August, November and December<B>Tax rate:</B> 3.4 mills<B>Population: </B>7,170<B>Named for:</B> Buffalo Creek, one of the four original townships in Butler County<B>Area:</B> 24.2 miles

Mike Barbiaux, owner and chef at the Evolution Grille in the South Pike Square shopping center off Route 356, decided to open his new restaurant in Buffalo Township because of its potential. “It was a growing area,” he said.

Buffalo Supervisor Dan Przybylek discusses the township's bright future outside the South Pike Shopping Center. He says innovative businessmen such as Mike Barbiaux and Gary Risch, who also plans to open a new restaurant in Sarver, help spur commercial growth in Buffalo Township.

From left, restaurateur Gary Risch and township supervisors Dan Przybylek and John Haven try out a booth in Risch's restaurant, Garrett's Place, which is under construction at the site of his former market along Route 356 near Route 228.