Pete Bennett, former promotional manager of the Beatles and other top acts, announced he is taking offices in Niagara Falls, NY, and plans to start a concert series here.

Bennett will open offices at One Niagara, the former office building of the Occidental Chemical Corp., and recently the site of a failed aquarium project called AquaFalls.

In December, the nine story, all-glass building, with stunning views of the Falls, and which is adjacent to both the Niagara Falls State Park, and the Rainbow International Bridge, was acquired through foreclosure by developer Frank Parlato and former Erie County Chairman Steve Pigeon.

Bennett appeared excited by his prospects. “There is tremendous opportunity in Niagara Falls,” Bennett told PoliticsWNY.com in an exclusive interview. “I intend to capitalize on it by taking offices and bringing name acts here. There is no location like One Niagara – from a sheer money making point of view -- and no place like Niagara Falls, NY. What an upside! It is an entrepreneurs dream. We can compete with the best that the Canadian side has to offer, and capture a big portion of an incredible tourist market. We don’t have to create the market either. It’s already here. All we have to do is serve it.”

It has been estimated by a recent study that more than 17 million visitors come to the area every year -- most of whom visit during an approximately 100 day summer season.

At a party for Bennett, on Saturday evening at One Niagara, building owner, Frank Parlato told a literal who’s who of Niagara Falls residents that there were signs of change both for the building and for the city. Parlato called Bennett's arrival a key part of his plan to make the property, long a gaping wound on the city's psyche, a foundation of its revitalization. He echoed Bennett’s assessment of the opportunity in Niagara Falls, NY.

Parlato told the assemblage, "Where else can you go where you've got 17 million tourists every year, and you're broke? Las Vegas would know what to do with 17 million people in their midst, 17 million tourists with money to spend. Orlando would know what to do. Niagara Falls, Ontario knows. They don't have a hard time figuring it out on the other side of the river. Only Niagara Falls, New York mopes around with eyes cast downward, lamenting, ‘oh, worse luck-we live in Niagara Falls.’

“Now we’re going to try to change that. Pete Bennett coming here is certainly an auspicious first sign. We’re going to try to help make a lot of people rich on this side of the river, too, starting here, from One Niagara – ‘headquarters’ for Niagara Falls …and, if anybody knows anyone who wants to make a fortune here, this tourist season, have them come to see us. We will need a lot of help from entrepreneurs to serve 17 million people."

Niagara Falls Mayor Vince Anello was also on hand at the Bennett party and spoke to the group.

Welcoming Bennett, Anello said that Bennett’s kind of optimism and confidence is what Niagara Falls needs most right now.

"The biggest thing you have to fight every morning is the cynicism that's developed here," Anello told the party guests. "But people from outside can see that things are happening in Niagara Falls."

Agreeing with Mayor Anello, Bennett later told the guests "You can't completely blame the people. They look around and see the stores closed, and they see the empty lots. But there's so much potential here. This place is still known, but I have to promote it back up to 'superstar.'

"You're so close to Canada, the air is great here, and it's really not that far from New York City -- it's a hour-long plane ride away," Bennett said. "If you give people a reason to come here, they will."

Among other guests at the One Niagara party, were Smoking Joe Anderson, who owns the Wintergarden, and several hotels in downtown Niagara Falls. There are plans underway with Anderson and Bennett to do a Vegas style concert series in Anderson’s Wintergarden with acts like Tony Bennett. Bobby Vinton, Tony Orlando, Ringo Starr and others.

Also at the party were restaurateurs Dan Vechies, and Guardeep Singh, Jack Mesi, father and manager of unbeaten heavyweight boxer “Baby” Joe Mesi, and Deputy Buffalo Comptroller and PoliticsWNY.com writer Tony Farina.

The Senecas were also there in numbers. Seneca chief judge Emery Williams, Seneca activist Sue Abrams, and Fallon Snyder, granddaughter of Seneca president Barry Snyder were among the large Seneca contingent, along with friends, restaurateurs Mike Militello and promoters Bobby Tavano.and Carmen Tormino, City councilmen Babe Rotello, and Bob Anderson, and Niagara Falls economic development director Ralph Aversa.

Several top administrators from Niagara Community College were also on hand, adding some credibility to rumors which have been circulating recently that the college may soon announce a major partnership initiative in some of the hospitality elements of Parlato’s “Welcome Center” and restaurant plans for One Niagara.

Bennett said he is taking offices on the eighth floor, and may also open a nightclub and rooftop restaurant.

Besides being the promotional manager of the Beatles, and each of the four individual members of the group after their breakup, Bennett was also long time promotional manager for the Rolling Stones, as well as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, George Burns, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Sam Cooke and others. He discovered Buffalo supermodel Beverly Johnson and launched the career of Buffalo promoter/producer Harvey Weinstein. In 1983, Billboard magazine named Bennett the #1 promoter in the entertainment industry devoting an unprecedented 22 page spotlight to the promoter’s legendary career. Bennett has more than 200 hit records to his credit. www.petebennett.com or www.peterbennett.org

Pigeon, who helped engineer the deal to bring Bennett to Niagara Falls (remember he brought Tom Golisano to Buffalo to buy the Sabres, and Parlato to Niagara Falls to buy One Niagara, and now Bennett) told PoliticsWNY.com “The opportunity to make a fortune here on the New York side, as it is becoming increasingly apparent, is simply incredible. Pete Bennett understands that. He has had a little experience in this line. There is an opportunity here – a chance like Las Vegas at the inception of gambling, or Orlando just before Disney.”