Long before they ever thought of buying a church, singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco and her manager, Scot Fisher, wanted to see their hometown make fuller use of its abundant resources; not just its buildings.  Over a decade ago, they started their record company and label in Buffalo.  To this day, Righteous Babe Records makes as many of the products they sell as possible through partnering with local vendors from their hometown.

Their continued dedication to the city was again apparent when they saved the former Asbury Delaware Methodist Church.  Ani's goal from there was to "...create a dynamic place that will have a momentum of its own once all the creative people are in there, and there is music happening at night, and art hanging on the walls and crazy cinema in the basement."

With the headquarters of Righteous Babe Records in it's new home at Babeville, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center in residence, and events happening day and night in Asbury Hall, the corner of Delaware Avenue and Tupper Street in downtown Buffalo is full of energy.