CEPA Gallery
Inside of the Market Arcade Building
617 Main Street, Suite 201
Green & Wicks, 1892
Handicap Accessible; Restrooms Available.
Photography and filming permitted.
Last Admittance: 3:30pm

Visitor Experience: A historic treasure, and a gem of Buffalo history with photographic exhibitions.

Building Description: Completed in 1892, it is one of the oldest covered shopping malls in America, with a humanely scaled interior.

Additional Information: The Market Arcade is a historic building in Buffalo located at 617 Main Street, in a downtown historic district characterized by Neo-Classical commercial buildings from the turn of the century. The building was completed in 1892 by the architects Green and Wicks, who designed it in the Neo-Classical / Beaux Arts style, inspired by ancient Roman architecture and European arcades. The building has two identical facades on Main and Washington streets, with arches, columns, ornamentation, and bison sculptures. The interior of the building features a covered pedestrian street with three levels of shops and offices on both sides, lit by a frosted glass skylight. The building was closed in the 1970s, however, The Market Arcade reopened in 1995 after a major renovation that cost $10 million. The renovation restored the building’s original features, such as the terra cotta, the Corinthian columns, and the elaborate ornamentation.

The Market Arcade is a building that embodies both the cultural and architectural heritage of Buffalo. Culturally, it represents the history and identity of the city, as it was built during a period of economic prosperity and civic pride. It also reflects the influence of European culture and art on American society, as it was modeled after famous arcades in Paris and London. The Market Arcade was a popular destination for urban shoppers and socializers, and it continues to be a vital community space today. Architecturally, it is a remarkable example of the Beaux-Arts style, which combines elements from various classical periods and movements. The Beaux-Arts style incorporates both French Neoclassical elements as well as characteristics from the Renaissance and Baroque movements. The building uses modern materials such as iron and glass but also employs traditional materials such as Roman bricks and terra cotta. The Market Arcade is one of the best surviving examples of such a retail complex within the city.

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