BUFFALO, N.Y. -- There are some 30 storefronts closed on Elmwood Avenue between Forest Avenue and Allen Street, and an advisory group seeks to remedy that.

At the intersection of Elmwood and Hodge, the site of the former Habibi Sheesha lounge has been closed since January 2015. No new tenant has filled Casa di Pizza since it closed to relocate downtown in August 2015. More recently, Newberry Street closed, and announced a move to Hertel Avenue.

Buffalo Common Council Members David Rivera and Joel Feroleto, and Assemblyman Sean Ryan met for coffee in the first of several meetings aimed at addressing the vacancies. The advisory group will examine all of the factors associated with businesses shutting down or moving locations.

"Is it the lease agreement, is it the cost of doing business, is it competition, is it Amazon, is it having food delivered to your house? There are a number of factors," Rivera said.

Feroleto says the group will also focus on gauging what types of new businesses residents want to see in the area, and to help them succeed, he would like to introduce a service being used in New York City.

"They have a legal clinic for small business owners where they get up to 40 hours of free legal services, and they help with the commercial legal issues that come up," Feroleto said.

Ryan says infrastructure could also play a role as to why the northern part of the Elmwood Village is busier than the southern part, citing action by the state in the 90s that shrunk the width Elmwood in order to put in wider sidewalks. That project stopped at Utica Street.

"From Utica Street heading towards downtown, there's a different feel. It's not as cozy, the cars go faster, and you're seeing a lot of the businesses suffer," Ryan said.

They also were expecting some loss of foot traffic in the village with the closure of Women & Children's Hospital.

The advisory group plans to also engage the business community and colleges to develop a plan for the area.