Pierce-Arrow Showroom

1932 Pierce-Arrow Sedan 

The legacy of beautiful horseless carriages is what most people associate with George N. Pierce, founder of the Pierce- Arrow Motor Car Co. These spectacular vehicles were proceeded by his manufacture of tricycles and bicycles, as well as birdcages and iceboxes. A Victorian era citizen was often judged by their possession of a decent birdcage. Pierce's arrival to Buffalo at a young age and meteoric manufacturing climb is quite a tale, due in large part to his work ethic and marrying well. Several buildings throughout the city are testament to his and Buffalo's place in automotive history. One such structure is the former Pierce-Arrow Showroom at Main and Jewet.

The building has traded owners throughout the years with bankers being the latest occupants. The restoration and bank transformation we see today was started and completed by Greater Buffalo Savings Bank at the beginning of this century. The building's original details; plaster coffered ceilings, Art Deco lighting/ fan fixtures, original tile marble and brass throughout, have been restored to their former glory. The added authentic, antique banking elements like deposit tables and cashier cages, keep the building true to form. There is no plexi- glass in here. The experience of banking in this building makes skipping the drive-thru a must. The pièce de résistance is the 1932 Pierce-Arrow Sedan appropriately gleaming through the giant display windows of the bank.