CHapter 1: The Beginning
“It started with a baby-blue square and a big idea.”
In 2005, Buffalo’s Elmwood Village was alive with creative energy. Amid this cultural moment, interior designer Michael P. and David Brugh his husband and business partner saw an opportunity: to bring high-end, design-forward furniture to a city craving something elevated.
They opened ROOM a store for Michael P. Design, a boutique unlike anything the city had seen. The original location - 611 Elmwood Avenue - was small (about 600 sq ft), but unforgettable. With its iconic baby-blue square logo and lowercase "room", the storefront was instantly recognizable. Customers would walk down a few steps into a space that felt less like a shop and more like a portal.
From the moment you entered, it was magic. Thoughtful curation, warm lighting, and a modern, inviting aesthetic. Those who attended the grand opening knew it instantly—this was exactly what Buffalo needed: high design with a signature point of view.
But ROOM didn’t stay small for long.
As demand grew, Michael P. and David B. found themselves ready for a bigger canvas. Just a year later, they relocated down the street to the corner of Elmwood and Potomac Avenue, into a larger, light-filled storefront - 988 Elmwood Avenue. The new space had gorgeous display windows, room for expanded inventory, and the spirit of a true design destination.
It was here that ROOM began to blossom into more than a boutique - it became a family affair. Andrew P. joined the team, bringing his big personality and infectious energy to the sales floor, while a close-knit circle of family and friends rallied behind the scenes—helping with events, unpacking boxes, styling displays, and cheering every step forward. The store didn’t just look beautiful—it felt like love in motion.
The furniture selection grew. A new concept called BabyROOM was born - a shop within the shop, dedicated to nursery and children’s furniture. Community was building inside and outside the storefront. Right around the corner were Sunday Skate Shop and Sweet & Dirty, and next door, a beloved neighborhood fabric store “Elmwood Village Fabrics.” ROOM became part of the creative heartbeat of Elmwood Avenue.
Those were the good old days.
But even that expanded space couldn’t contain the vision. A new neighborhood was calling—and ROOM would soon become a catalyst for the revitalization in North Buffalo.
“It takes a dream and good style - and they had both.”
CHAPTER 2: HERTEL BOUND
By the late 2000s, ROOM had outgrown Elmwood once again. What began as a boutique had transformed into a full-fledged design destination, and the growing team needed room to breathe, dream, and scale.
Enter Hertel Avenue - then an under appreciated stretch of North Buffalo poised for revival. It was a leap of faith, but Michael P. and David B. have always been visionaries with great instincts. When ROOM moved into a new space at 1400 Hertel Avenue in 2009, they didn’t just find a storefront—they helped spark a neighborhood renaissance. The new location was 4,000 square feet - and was stunning: soaring ceilings, sweeping display windows, and the kind of natural light that made furniture glow. From the first day, ROOM on Hertel felt different. It had presence, intention, and a pulse.
And they introduced themselves in unforgettable fashion.
The grand opening party was pure spectacle: signature cocktails, DJ Shock & Awe, and a packed house filled with Buffalo’s coolest creatives, designers, and supporters. The city wrapped its arms around ROOM, and Hertel Avenue took note: something special had arrived.
This was the golden era of ROOM.
Inside, the team curated furniture collections that balanced timeless elegance with modern edge. Around them, Michael P. Design grew rapidly, taking on residential and commercial clients and welcoming new design talent, including a young Raelynn Capozzi, now founder of Westend Interiors. Their studio became a training ground for rising designers and a hub of creative exchange.
And ROOM began to branch out - literally.
As part of the ever-expanding lifestyle concept, Michael P. and David B. introduced Sprout, a shop-within-a-shop focused on plants, flowers, and garden design. With its curated mix of botanicals, vessels, and floral installations, Sprout brought greenery and soul into the space. It was fresh, whimsical, and deeply aligned with the way people wanted to live close to beauty, rooted in nature, and surrounded by intentional design.
Meanwhile, ROOM became synonymous with community celebration.
Every Holiday on Hertel, thousands would pass through the doors for ROOM’s legendary festivities—signature holiday cocktails, exclusive gift drops, custom scents, DJs spinning all day, and window displays that rivaled Fifth Avenue. One year it was a life-size painted horse by Peter Fowler, another, a full Santa vignette. The front windows became Buffalo’s version of Bergdorf Goodman, reimagined with Queen City spirit.
And they didn’t stop there.
ROOM joined Buffalo’s Pride Parade year after year, and their float was always a highlight—colorful, joyful, creative. The store’s 10-year anniversary featured a towering birthday cake float, while another season brought the magic of The Greatest Showman to life—complete with costumes and Michael P. as the greatest showman himself.
That same spirit of imagination and transformation captured the attention of HGTV, who invited Michael P. Design and the ROOM team to serve as design producers for multiple shows—including House Hunters and the local series American Rehab Buffalo. What began as a beloved neighborhood design destination quickly evolved into a trusted creative force on national television.
During this time of momentum, Michael P. and David B. helped usher in the rebirth of Downtown Buffalo with another bold idea: ROOM 2, located inside the Historic Hotel Lafayette. Michael P. Design was entrusted with the interior design of the hotel’s grand restoration—a landmark project that celebrated Buffalo’s architecture and future in equal measure. As part of that transformation, ROOM 2 opened inside the hotel—a jewel box boutique that became the go-to destination for gifts, home accents, and wedding registries in the heart of the city. For a few magical years, ROOM 2 helped animate the downtown renaissance, welcoming hotel guests, downtown workers, and city dwellers into a curated design experience right off the lobby.
Through recessions, through a pandemic, and through the challenges of scaling a luxury retail business in a changing city, ROOM held steady. Because ROOM wasn’t just a store—it was a feeling. A place where good design met good people.
The incredible team members who poured their creativity, care, and craft into every display, every delivery, every customer connection. Designers, creatives, sales staff, and behind-the-scenes magicians— ROOM wouldn’t be what it is without them. Their fingerprints are on every chapter, every corner. They brought ROOM to life, day after day, with passion and pride. But as the team kept growing and the vision kept evolving, something else had been quietly taking shape in the background.
Another dream. A bigger one.
One that Michael P. had carried with him for years - waiting for just the right space, the right spark, & the right moment…
CHAPTER 3: ROOM at THE MONOCLE
“A destination of discovery. A gift to Buffalo.”
And then there’s Mr. Pickles, the couple’s charming bulldog and unofficial mascot. With his own signature look and grumpy-sweet demeanor, Mr. Pickles has become something of a legend—adding a wink of personality and an undercurrent of playfulness to the whole Monocle identity. In many ways, The Monocle is just like him: bold, beloved, and utterly unforgettable.
The Monocle officially opened in 2022, transforming 9,268 square feet into a multi-level world of curated design, beauty, and experience.
At its heart is ROOM, the flagship home store that spans both floors—featuring an airy, light-filled furniture showroom above and a gifting atelier below. Here, thoughtfully curated accessories, décor, and signature scents invite moments of wonder. Overlooking it all from the mezzanine, the Michael P. Design studio serves as the creative engine—where interiors are dreamed up, drawn out, and brought to life.
On the lower level, Crockett & Co.—founded by David B.—is a refined barber studio and apothecary that blends European grooming traditions with contemporary style. The space also showcases elevated menswear, curated accessories, and small-batch fragrances, all crafted for those who value quality, detail, and distinction.
Most recently, Café Bewilderment joined The Monocle family. Proudly queer- and woman-owned by life partners Avery Passons and Paris Klas, the café offers locally roasted coffee, curated wines and cocktails, and seasonal fare in a warm, design-rich setting. Their inclusive, creative spirit brings new energy to the building - beautifully aligned with The Monocle’s ethos of intention, artistry, and welcome.
And just beyond the doors, The Monocle now stands at the center of “The Midnight Garden”—a sweeping mural commissioned by the Buffalo AKG Art Museum and completed in 2025. Created by internationally renowned artist Ola Volo and an all-female team of collaborators, the artwork spans three buildings and features a woman draped in peacock feathers, surrounded by birds and lush flora. Inspired by Slavic folklore and themes of transformation, the mural shimmers with metallic detail, bringing a sense of wonder to the streetscape.
From the moment you enter, The Monocle is an experience—and it’s only just beginning. With outdoor patios, seasonal pop-ups, and a winter market on the horizon, it continues to reimagine what a modern department store can be: a space for discovery, beauty, and belonging.
From a tiny storefront on Elmwood to a destination that now shapes a neighborhood, Michael P. and David B. haven’t just endured—they’ve led. They’ve redefined what retail can be in Buffalo.
Some visions don’t fade. They wait—for the right building, the right moment, and the right kind of courage to bring them to life.
For Michael P., The Monocle had lived in his imagination for years. A modern-day department store with old-world elegance. A place where Buffalo’s creative class could gather, be inspired, and discover beautiful things. Not just a store—a lifestyle experience.
David B. saw it too. Together, they knew it could be done—but only if the setting was perfect.
After years of searching, they found the ideal canvas: a former synagogue at 1235 Hertel Avenue, waiting to be reimagined. The renovation paid off in brilliance.
But why The Monocle?
The name is a direct reflection of Michael P. and David B’s enduring love for Great Britain, its design heritage, tailoring tradition, and—of course—English bulldogs. It’s sophisticated, a bit cheeky, and completely on brand. The monocle itself—an old-world eyepiece worn by gentlemen with flair—became a symbol of timeless style and elegance.
CHAPTER 4: TWENTY YEARS OF ROOM
Built with vision, sustained by love.
Twenty years ago, ROOM was just an idea—a dream sparked by good taste, grit, and a baby-blue square.
Today, it’s a design institution. A community anchor. A love letter to Buffalo written in texture, light, scent, and soul.
Through two decades, Michael P. and David B. have done more than build beautiful spaces. They’ve built trust. They’ve built loyalty. They’ve built a legacy rooted in hospitality, style, and substance.
Customers have grown alongside them—buying their first sofa at 988 Elmwood, decorating nurseries on Potomac, discovering heirloom pieces on Hertel, and now sipping espresso beneath a world-class mural. ROOM has never just been a place to shop. It’s been a place to belong.
They’ve also been surrounded by an incredible staff and a gifted circle of designers who helped shape that legacy—creative minds and kind souls who poured themselves into every window, every layout, every customer conversation. ROOM’s team has always been more than retail—they’ve been part of the story. Part of the family.
And yet, even now, there’s a sense that it’s all still unfolding. That the story is still being written.
Because that’s the way Michael P. and David move through the world—by listening, refining, and reimagining.
From a boutique concept to a window that whispers a story, or a sofa that anchors a room, their work is never static.
There’s always something intentional, something inspired, just around the corner.
As ROOM celebrates 20 years, one truth is clear: this isn’t just a business.
It’s a legacy in motion.
And Buffalo is better because of it.