Support for Linda Steffan

UPDATE! Thank you all so much!!

Linda’s goal has been reached and she is thrilled and humbled by your support. I’m closing donations for now because she and I agree that this amount will make her whole for this month’s financial needs, and will undo the damage that’s been done due to loss of income.

Main Street is opening up again on her end of the block, too, so she is hopeful that commerce will return to normal soon.

*Linda Steffan owns a historic shop on Main Street in Buffalo. It’s been in her family since the 1800s. It was always a leather goods supply store, and is to this day.

Linda’s great grandfather sold harness supplies and made harness repairs, long before there were cars on Main Street. It was also a cobbler shop and boot repair.

Linda is the last remaining Steffan to own and run “Steffan’s and sons inc” on the 700 block of Main Street. It is filled with the same original shelves, drawers, die cutting machines and even the original cash register. It’s like stepping back in time.

Two weeks ago a devastating fire happened in the building adjacent to Linda’s shop. Linda’s building was separated by a driveway and was unharmed. The fire tragically cost a local firefighter his life.

The scene has been chaotic from the first moment the fire started, and remains in chaos today. Main Street has been closed for two weeks and will remain closed for at least a few more weeks, since the building is being inspected fir cause of the fire and being dismantled slowly due to asbestos.

Obviously, Linda’s shop is inaccessible to customers. She can get into it and has been there every day, but parking and foot traffic on her block remains restricted.

Except for myself, I don’t think Linda has had any sales in weeks.

her bills will be due soon.

While NY has a program to provide funding for victims of crimes, there still is no statement as to the cause of this fire. Her insurance only allows for damages and her building was undamaged. But there’s no compensation for interrupted access to business traffic, so she’s essentially on her own.

I’ve spent many happy hours perusing the drawers and shelves of this historic little place. Linda is a friend of mine, and she’s a gentle and generous soul. Many of my vintage tools and hardware supplies come from Linda’s shop and she can find special finishes and sealers that I can’t seem to get anywhere else.

It would be a terrible shame if she had to close this shop after so many decades.

I’m raising this money to help Linda stay on her feet while Main Street remains inaccessible, and while her block heals from the terrible tragic fire that has already cost one young life and destroyed one landmark Buffalo business. I don’t want Linda’s business to be the next to fall.

Every penny will go to Linda. I’m paying the fees.

Please consider donating whatever you can afford. Every little bit helps.