For too long the building that once housed Kings Family Restaurant in Buffalo Plaza sat empty. Plans to change that and re-imagine that space are worth celebrating.

The 7,500-square-foot building was a once popular family restaurant that many of us visited to enjoy dinner, perhaps following a movie at the nearby theater, but as the restaurant closed, only memories and an empty space remained.

That is to change soon due to new development there that promises to bring not one, but three businesses to the Route 356 location.

The end closest to Route 356 will feature a Starbucks, and at the other end of the building, an Italian restaurant will find a home. Yet another space is to be marketed once the coffee shop opens — an event planned for fall. Toasted Amo, the Italian spot, is expected to open on a similar timeline.

Change, of course, is the only constant in life. In this scenario, the change is from an empty building to a full and active space with multiple businesses. Of course, the memories of a sit-down family restaurant at that location will remain, but the new plans for the space excite us.

In a recent interview, Anthony Pompeo, Buffalo Plaza owner and vice president of Marc Anthony Construction & Real Estate Development, shared that he had high hopes for the space.

“We feel it will generate more foot traffic,” Pompeo said. “We are hoping it serves shoppers of Giant Eagle and the rest of the center well for a quick stop.”

We too have high hopes for the new use of an existing building.

There’s other empty spaces yet to fill around Butler County, but that’s one empty building down.

— TL