Buffalo Boss Babe: Bernice Radle
This weeks Buffalo Boss Babe is the super woman at the helm of Buffalove Development & Little Wheel Restoration Co., Bernice Radle. She is an awesome bad ass babe who runs three companies (development, management and construction) and has almost a 50% woman staff.
Photo courtesy of Bernice at Buffalove Development
Buffalove Development is a small scale real estate development company focused on rehabilitating vacant and underutilized historic buildings in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY. There are four key principles that guide Buffalove Development's work: Preservation, Sustainability, Community & BuffaLove.
We chatted with Bernice about life, her business and Buffalove!
Photo courtesy of Bernice at Buffalove Development
What made you start or brought you to where you are today? Tell us your story and what makes you a Buffalo Boss Babe.
I grew up in extreme poverty in Niagara Falls and spent many summers painting houses with my dad. Both of those aspects of my life have shaped my decision to help strengthen our housing market for people like my family - the working poor. I got my first job in property management when I was 21 handling maintenance calls and worked my way up to do the largest energy efficiency retrofit project in Buffalo for Horizon Realty. Big Deal! At the age of 25, my "side hustle" Buffalove Development LLC was born. I saw the poverty, vacancy and demolitions happening around my neighborhood on the West Side and decided to do something about it! Five years later we are small but mighty - a cornucopia of companies and partnerships dedicated to trying to create sustainable housing on a private level and designed to develop, manage and construct our projects. We are 14 strong, 40 buildings strong, 3 amazing art / mural projects, 3 major development partnerships, 1 glorious community garden and are developing the first brewery in 70 years for Niagara Falls, NY!
Photo courtesy of Bernice at Buffalove Development
Bernice : Photo courtesy of Bernice at Buffalove Development
Who are your favorite people to follow?
Right now? All the Game of Thrones characters, local icons like nickel city pretty, Wrafterbuilt & RISE Collaborative and tons of design companies like TileBar, Buena Tile
Dwell, etc...
What are your favorite things to do in the area (Buffalo and greater WNY)?
I don't have many hobbies. I basically eat, work and sleep these days. I always manage to fit in Sophia's breakfast with Drew on the weekends and a trip to Five Points Bakery with some of my best buds. When I do get a chance though, I'm kayaking the Buffalo River, hiking at local spots, spending time with family, checking out the latest restaurant and exploring old buildings.
This logo is a Buffalo Boss Babe!!!!!!! SO GOOD!
Tell me about your favorite collaborations or a dream collaboration?
My dream collaboration? Wow. Maybe working with Nickel City Pretty to design work wear for construction little lady builder babes like me? That would be fun, right?!!? On a serious note, collaborating with non profits and other companies interested in creating inclusive, diverse communities is all I want in my life.
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world who would it be?
Coffee with anyone?!?! My Dad. He isn't on this earth anymore but he loved me, construction and coffee and I miss him like crazy!
What are your hopes, dreams, goals? Big or Small.
I want Buffalove Development to be a real estate model focused on doing right by the community through energy efficiency, preservation, affordability and quality materials... one that others can use in other rust belt cities and small towns. We have to make it work because our historic neighborhoods and working class people need it!
Buffalove Development Mural
Tell us about your family a bit?
I couldn't live without my fiancé Drew Brown - he really makes my world go round! He works at Visit Buffalo Niagara and is co owner of RISE Collaborative. His passion for Buffalo is unreal and I love it.
We live on the West Side and have two cats - Conrad and Deacon and no babies... unless you count all my buildings, residents and employees!
Buffalove Developments first houses
This part is our Feel Good Five :)
Color: PURPLE / TEAL / BLACK. I wear black all day everyday... but all my houses are fun colors.
Food: Good Day: Vanilla Bean Protein Shake by Orgain and a hummus wrap from Newbury Street. Bad Day: ETS tacos and fries all wrapped up in a shell and a venti tea from Starbucks.
Super Power: Go Go Gadget Arms!!!! Would be awesome to have in construction... there's nothing like being almost done with installing trim and you need to refill your nail gun. :)
Animal: Mother Bear.
Season of the year: All of them. You'll never hear me complaining about seasons - it is one of my favorite aspects of Buffalo. Just have to make sure you have the right gear and you're all set!
LINKS / ARTICLES for more from bernice
Ted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PklS8Y56eLE
NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/garden/small-scale-developers-big-dreams.html?mcubz=3
Albright Knox Mural Collaboration - Just Finished!!! https://www.buffalorising.com/2017/07/betsy-casanas-mural-to-instill-pride-in-buffalos-latino-community/
Bernice is a true BOSS BABE to this city. She is working hard everyday to make it a better place for everyone. Huge thanks to Bernice for taking the time out of her crazy schedule so we can show the city she loves so much what amazing things she is doing! For more info visit her website http://buffalovedevelopment.com or give her a follow on instagram @buffalovedevelopment
Until next time!
Buffalo Boss Babes is a woman run blog that features amazing woman doing amazing things in and around the city of Buffalo N.Y. If you know someone doing amazing things for our community, past and present, young and old..... send us a message at buffalobossbabes@gmail.com
Be kind to everyone you meet.
Here's to strong woman! May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
