If Music Be – Piano and coffee lounge

Located one block from Kleinhans Music Hall, If Music Be – Piano Salon and Café (IMB) will soon be the perfect blend of aromatic smells and melodic music. The keys to the music lounge and café are in the hands of owner Elise Alaimo, who sees IMB as a boutique chamber music café, music studio and inclusive space for classes and performances.

Timing is everything, according to Elise, who says it’s a multi-pronged project. Interestingly enough, she believes that eating healthy foods is just as important as playing and listening to music. You could say that Elise is a history buff and a lover of architecture. All of these passions are playing out right now, as IMB comes to life.

Elise, a longtime public school music teacher who is now retired, told me that her retirement is like a second childhood. “It’s the next step in teaching music and having fun. And I know that people and good food go hand in hand – I can’t imagine a recital without refreshments. Students always need a snack. People are simply hungry and feel more comfortable breaking bread, to feel more human. Everything I do has a food component. Food is a different kind of art. I have a mission that concerns health and the environment, as well as music. I didn’t want to open a conventional bar serving wine and beer. I wanted to do something different.”

When Elise began sourcing unique, healthy, organic, and delicious foods and drinks, she discovered there weren’t many choices – at least the types of items she had already formulated in his mind. That’s why when she was looking for an organic, dairy-free, healthy and refreshing treat, Italian ice cream came to mind. Unfortunately, she couldn’t find anything local without additives she’d rather avoid, so she ended up opting for Mount Granita Italian Ice (Little Italy in Cleveland).

“They make it like the Sicilians did 100 years ago – just like the lemon ice cream my dad loved,” Elise mentioned fondly. “I’m talking to a few local chefs, but in the meantime I’m taking it out of town. It’s low in calories and very satisfying. I’m also looking for a good coffee shop that meets similar standards. Someone gave me an old-fashioned espresso machine, which I’m really excited about. I’m currently speaking at a Yemeni bakery in Tonawanda. I also want to eat salty food. My main mission is music, but food is just as important.

IMB will have a old history aesthetic, consistent with the multi-stage restoration of the building.

“It is the responsibility of several architects,” reflects Elise. “This is a much bigger project than I expected. I have been approved for Part 1 of the tax credit process, which refers to the structure an important building. When people manipulate neighborhood structures, they erase them from our collective memory. This building is something of a museum: it dates back to the 1880s. But there are parts that are even older than that. At the rear, part of it was part of an old estate, close to the circus grounds. I went to the Buffalo History Museum to research the history of the neighborhood. My father was born in 1913, in a mostly Sicilian neighborhood on the Lower West Side that is now an on-ramp to the 190. This erasure of the neighborhood contributed to the urbanization of the city.

IIMB will host residencies for arts practitioners from here and abroad. IMB will be home to a Youth String Orchestra, Tango, and Gamelan ensembles, for starters.

Elise described the time her father swam in the Niagara River. She told me about the time when City Hall was being built, her father climbed to the top and carved his initials into a section.

“There was so much family folklore,” Elise remembers. “When we were little, he moved us all to Williamsville, even though he talked about Trenton Avenue all the time. Then, when I was older, and he was in his 80s, he tried to discourage me from buying in the city. “Everyone is moving, the city is shrinking,” he told me. But I found myself drawn to the city, to North Buffalo, where I have lived most of my adult life. I went against his wishes. The IMB property (315 Pennsylvania Street) had been owned since the 1970s by dear friends, who also own the Coda restaurant building (now Bellini’s – next to Kleinhans). It had been vacant for more than 20 years. I’m a musician – being a block from the music hall was very appealing. For me, it was a huge gift to be able to buy and restore it. I don’t think my friends thought I was going in a sensible direction (laughs), but I felt very inspired… like it was a great adventure. It’s so much fun, if I can survive it.

Elise told me that she always followed her instincts. Now she is tackling this project for all the right reasons. While she attempts to teach humanity through music, she believes she can inspire people through other art forms, including the art of food, the art of architecture, art of preservation and the art of community and common sense.

IMB will cater to folks with diverse learning needs, to take piano and violin lessons, play together with others in a small or large ensemble, and/or gather with friends to improvise.

“This world-class orchestra, just down the street, makes me feel like the world isn’t so bad. Every time I attend the symphony or hear someone learning to play an instrument, I am reminded of the beauty that still surrounds us. This is why I teach music. That’s why I’m doing this project.

In the future, Elise will perform a collaborative soft opening recital (pending permit), featuring renowned cellist (Jonathan Golove – Chair and Associate Professor of Music, University at Buffalo Department of Music) and the great American poet (Irving Feldman, who taught at the University at Buffalo). Department of English at the State University of New York at Buffalo for 40 years). The show, which will be officially announced on the If Music Be website, will be a benefit for the building/project, which is currently awaiting approval for non-profit status.

For lessons or appointments, email [email protected].