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Favorite "Gin Mill" in WNY that you....


EndZoneCrew

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...frequent or used to frequent back in da day? There are so many classic taverns/bars throughout WNY that I was just curious to see which ones TBD'ers go to now or way back when!!!!

 

 

EZC

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Well, by gin mill I am assuming you are refering more to local tavernsthan"nightclubs" so I am not going to include places like the Locker Room, Coles Brickbar etc.

 

. I grew up in the Falls, and way back in da day(late70's early80's) we used to go to either Culberts Hotel or The Sandbar, both on Buffalo Ave. before heading out for the night. Have no idea if either are still open. If I recall, drafts maybe $.50 at each??

 

Another place we went was Gadowski's on Falls Street. Went there just about every friday for fish with the family, then would usually hang at the bar for a couple of hrs till going out again. I was there pretty recently, maybe 18 months ago, so assuming it is still open.

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Well, by gin mill I am assuming you are refering more to local tavernsthan"nightclubs" so I am not going to include places like the Locker Room, Coles Brickbar etc.

 

I love how you refer the Locker Room and Brickbar as "nightclubs"....haha

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In the mid - late 70s/early 80s, Thursday nights was reserved for the Park Meadow across from the zoo. Gabels, Stumble inn, Locker room and Cassidys were my hangouts of choice. WHen at Niagara University, The Cove and Mcques were the places I spent my money.

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wow, i havent heard the term 'gin mill' in a long time.

 

anyway, I've gone to the Brick bar, Belle Starrs', The Locker room.

My favorite, although not technically a 'gin mill' is Brennans Bowery bar.

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In the mid - late 70s/early 80s, Thursday nights was reserved for the Park Meadow across from the zoo. Gabels, Stumble inn, Locker room and Cassidys were my hangouts of choice. WHen at Niagara University, The Cove and Mcques were the places I spent my money.

Was Park Meadow Thursdays?? Now that I think about you are right. If I recall, same deal as the Locker room on Tuesdays no? Two Blues fro $1.50? Iced Teas $1? BTW, is Vodka and Ice Tea still big in WNY? Lordy, the Cove and Mcques were some good times. Speaking of the Locker room Tuesday nights, for us Falls kids it was always the Library on Tuesday(same deal as the Locker Room), if the talent was not promising there, leave about 1.00AM and head up to Locker room.

 

While on the subject, lets not forget Slopoos(Slombas).

 

I love how you refer the Locker Room and Brickbar as "nightclubs"....haha

 

Yea well, those were the nightclubs in my youth LOL . And lets face it, the girls in those places didn't mind throwing a few back, which, when you look like me, was a good thing for them to get their beer googles on!!

 

Still am more of a college bar type of guy than a nightclub type of guy.Always was

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...frequent or used to frequent back in da day? There are so many classic taverns/bars throughout WNY that I was just curious to see which ones TBD'ers go to now or way back when!!!!

 

 

EZC

 

First, foremost, forever...Jerry's, on Chandler across form the old iron foundry. Long gone.

 

Central Park Grill and Kelly's Korner - although the clientele has changed. I was friends with the now-deceased owners of both...Bob Sr. at the CPG, Marge and Bob at Kelly's...and now their children.

 

The Whistle Pig in the old Kohler-Redden drug store building - long gone.

 

The Kenmore Tavern - long gone.

 

Nucherino's - gone.

 

Volker's bowling alley.

 

The M&E.

 

Bailo's. Gone.

 

Ace's Steak Pit - downtown nearby the Aud. Gone.

 

The Pastime on Grant by Forest - good ole' Eddie Z. - last time I was there, son Bob (IIRC) was running it.

 

The Pastime in Black Rock - Austin Street?

 

Warren's in the City of Tonawanda...not the steak house. Military (?) by Fletcher. Gone?

 

Wally Bobek's strip joint.

 

Can't recall names - the "Mack The Knife" holes around IP in NT.

 

A couple of the West Side after-hours mob joints.

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Too many to mention, but here's a few...

 

I played softball for the Raintree Pub in the Town of Tonawanda. I was also on the puck bowling team, so I guess it qualifies as a "gin mill".

 

Malone's in Kenmore was across the street from this crazy penthouse my buddy had in the early 90s.

 

Then there's the Gin Mill in Ellicottville, but I digress.

 

Now I have the Goo Goo Dolls song "Broadway" in my head...

See the young man sittin'

In the old man's bar

Wait for his turn to die

 

B-)

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Golf Club Inn on Potters Rd.

 

Heritage Inn on Union before it burned down.

We used to Roll the Golf Club when I played Beer League Hockey back in the late 1990's....It is funny there are some places I refuse to go to b/c their team was full of a-holes

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...frequent or used to frequent back in da day? There are so many classic taverns/bars throughout WNY that I was just curious to see which ones TBD'ers go to now or way back when!!!!

 

 

EZC

 

McVans...my ears are still ringing 30 years later..

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Well, by gin mill I am assuming you are refering more to local tavernsthan"nightclubs" so I am not going to include places like the Locker Room, Coles Brickbar etc.

 

. I grew up in the Falls, and way back in da day(late70's early80's) we used to go to either Culberts Hotel or The Sandbar, both on Buffalo Ave. before heading out for the night. Have no idea if either are still open. If I recall, drafts maybe $.50 at each??

 

Another place we went was Gadowski's on Falls Street. Went there just about every friday for fish with the family, then would usually hang at the bar for a couple of hrs till going out again. I was there pretty recently, maybe 18 months ago, so assuming it is still open.

 

 

Culberts, the Sandbarand Gadawski's certainly qualify as "gin mills".

 

Like Cincy, most of my favorite WNY joints are long gone. Some of the best, that come immediately to mind, that were still open the last time I checked, are:

 

Youngstown:

The Jug!

 

Lockport:

Niagara Hotel on North Transit (a dump's dump!)

 

Niagara Falls:

Players on Niagara Street (across from the Seneca Casino (across from

 

Judi's Lounge on Military Road (across from the Outlet Mall)

 

Jonfres on Niagara St (and 27th st).

 

Dueger's Tenowon on Niagara St (1001 Niagara St, actually)

 

Braggs on Ferry Ave (and 3rd St)

 

Stadium Grill on Hyde Park Blvd (across from Sal Maglie Stadium)

 

 

Buffalo (and surrounding area):

Merlins on Elmwood Ave.(even though it is on Elmwood, it is still a joint/gin mill)

 

Swannie House on Ohio St and S. Michigan (right near General Mills)

 

Anacone's on Baily (near Kennsington)...I heard this might be closing a while back.

 

Essex Pub on Essex St (and Rhode Island St.)

 

Gabel's on Hertel

 

The bar that Bob Lamb worked at, on Niagara Falls Blvd (near Sheridan)...I'm drawing a blank, here.

 

The (really dumpy) bar on Main St Williamsville. that had their sign upside down. Damn, where is my memory?

 

 

Not "gin mills", but good local places:

 

Kelly's Korner, Mister Dee's, Grovers, McPartlan's, Gabriel's Gate, Brunner's, Schwabels, Founding Fathers

 

 

 

I know I am missing a bunch. The Senator has taken me to some really sleazy bars, whose names I no longer remember, so maybe he will chime in and fill in some of the blanks. (Note: The Senator doesn't really like sleazy bars anywhere near as much as I do, but he knows a bunch of them.)

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