“The combination of the headquarters and hotel complex represents the largest single private commitment of dollars to downtown Buffalo in the city’s history. But even more importantly, the development of the Buffalo Savings Bank headquarters and the Hyatt Hotel complex will forge the crucial link between the Convention Center and the Theatre District, and help provide continuity to all downtown redevelopment efforts.” – Ross B. Kenzie, President, Buffalo Savings Bank, 1980

In 1980, Buffalo Savings Bank—renamed Goldome Bank in 1983—announced plans for a $55 million expansion to be a key part of the federally subsidized Fountain Plaza redevelopment project. In 1981, every building on the block between Main, Washington, Huron, and Chippewa, except the original Buffalo Savings Bank, was razed for the expansion. At a January 6 formal celebration, Mayor James Griffin swung a gold-colored sledge hammer at the Washington Street building that housed Herb’s Grill and Pete’s 574 Club. A gold-colored wrecking ball crashed into the building as a few hundred onlookers cheered on and a band played the Talking Proud song.

By April, the Main Street buildings shown in this 1980 photograph—with businesses like Liberty Shoes, Buffalo Optical Co., Phil’s Famous Brand Shoes, Tanke jewelers, Brownie’s Army & Navy Store, Buffalo Leather Goods, LaRussa Men’s Shop, and Dino’s Pizza—were sent to the landfill. The new headquarters—an anti-social building with a ground floor devoted to a corporate lobby and offices set back behind an arcade—was completed by 1985. Goldome Bank went out of business in 1991.