My grandfathers house/bar is for sale again

My grandfathers house/bar is for sale again

I grew up listening to the old timers that went to this bar when my great uncle ran the place.

http://photos2.zillowstatic.com/p_h/...0000000000.jpg

They remodeled quite a bit. The bar stools used to be round. The walls were dark. There were multiple color neon tubes
along the ceiling behind that lip just behind the flags. They were red, green and white. You could make the ceiling what ever color
neon light you had turned on.

The bar had 1/2" X 4" glass mirror strips where the black trim is. He also had a collection of plastic/ceramic small horses on top of the shelve above back bar mirrors.


http://photos2.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

I see the booths/tables my uncle made have all been removed. They were black with red bench seats that wrapped around the tables. The back were high enough that you were blocked from the booth next to you.

They went long the entire left wall, the back wall with a large wrap around booth to the back right. That was basically the "family" booth where they would eat dinner. The white door you see wasn't there. That door was originally there 80 years ago when it was ran as a full restaurant/tavern. My great grandmother eventually had an apartment in the back and that door was removed. There was never a pool table and the floor was dark from the front to the back.

http://photos3.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg


The woman's bathroom is on the right and the side exit is the right.

In the back right corner was the "family" booth. I think it sat either 8 or 10 people. My uncle/aunt did their paper work and ate dinner there. I don't think they would have been happy with the black and white checkered floor.


http://photos3.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

The ceiling fans were added afterwards. The original wooden pay phone booth is still in the corner. There were booths that matched the back booths along the right wall. The original jute box was where the current one is. You can see where the neon was just behind the street signs.


http://photos1.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

It looks like they converted my great grandmother's apartment into a kitchen. My grandfather lived in that apartment as he got older. He used to live in the upper front apartment and couldn't do the stairs any longer.


http://photos1.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

http://photos2.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

Oh the garage was torn down and replaced with this

http://photos2.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

My grand mother would cook all summer in that garage. It was a two car garage that held my grandfathers snap on tools and his 1960 Pontiac Boneville.

I think this is the same color.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3775/...5c1a2bee1f.jpg

My Uncle owned the small building/lot behind the garage. he had his veggie garden there.

The was a small flower garden along that wooden fence. Originally it was a chain link fence. The shed wasn't there. What was there was a natural gas cooking grill set into the concrete. The door was the entrance to my great gandmother's then later on my grand father's apartment.


http://photos3.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg


You can see where they added the smoke stack to the side of the building. That was never there. That back side door goes up to the apartment we lived in while taking
care of my grand father. The white building was Camillo's grocery store. The building on the other side was a jewelry store.


http://photos1.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

MY GRANDMOTHER would be flipping out right now.

The floor was basically white and I can't remember what color tiles were on the back splash but I know there were that dark color. Those are the original cabinets.

http://photos2.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg


There was a small counter where the garbage pail is sitting. I'm pretty sure I ran into it when I was a kid and had to get stitches on my chin.

http://photos3.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

I see the original door bell still on the left wall. What is missing is my grand mother's gold sectional couch that had custom plastic covers. If you slept over you would stick to the plastic.

http://photos1.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg


I'm pretty sure this was it or at least the chime was.

The bathroom is just about original. I see they put a new sink in but the tub, tile and medicine cabinet are still there. The tub was cool. The entire tub was more squarish.

http://photos3.zillowstatic.com/p_f/...0000000000.jpg

I see they replaced the original furnace that was located in the attic. You can see the original gas stove that my grand mother used at various times.

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Nice memories

Remember this photo?

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Here is what it was like in 1948 and basically how I remembered it

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4155/3...bbbc16b4_b.jpg


You can see the original booth's that my Uncle made in the back. There was neon lighting between the wall and the back of the booths the entire length of the wall. It was pretty cool. The original floor was black and red.



https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4175/3...865b6924_b.jpg

I remember my uncle slow roasting roast beef for sandwiches in the basement. You can see the stainless steel food warmer just under the vintage toaster and coffee pot.

Here are the second set of owners.

Joe/Elma Romano and Ernest/Jenny Fracasso. The bar was given to them by my grand fathers parents.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4186/3...a9cd4f18_z.jpg

My uncle and grand parents wouldn't be happy about this:

Go watch the video

The store front to the right was a grocery store years ago and the building on the left was a jewelry shop. My grandmother bought me my first digital watch from that place. This type of stuff far as I know didn't happen in the bar when they owned it.


Buffalo police shut down bar after overnight shooting



BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Police have temporarily shut down Checkmate Bar and Grill in the Lovejoy neighborhood after an overnight shooting. The victim is in critical condition.

Neighbors in the Lovejoy neighborhood say this isn’t the first time there’s been trouble at Checkmate. That’s why they want the city to keep it closed for good.

Police say the shooting happened just before 3 o’clock Saturday morning in the 1100 block of Lovejoy street. Detectives say there was some kind of incident inside Checkmate Bar and Grill involving many people. They say that incident continued outside the bar, where a 32-year-old man was shot. He was taken to ECMC in critical condition.


http://wivb.com/2018/01/27/buffalo-p...ight-shooting/

Is there any update?

Haven't seen anything in the news about it lately.

My grand father told me there was a lovejoy theater on the corner. This must be what he talked about but the address doesn't make sense. This is listed as 1020 E. Lovejoy Street, Buffalo, NY 14206 but my grand father's address was 1194 Lovejoy.

It also says Lovejoy Street and Davey Street which would be next to his house. I wonder if the house next to the theater in this photo was his.

Quote:

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Located on the corner of Lovejoy Street & Davey Street. Opened as the Lovejoy Palace Theatre in around 1909. It was later renamed Lovejoy Theatre, and was closed and demolished in the late-1940’s. A supermarket was built on the site.

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http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...jpg?1557805927

Quote:

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Joe VogelJoe Vogel on December 6, 2013 at 6:33 pm
The address of the Lovejoy Theatre that was listed in city directories in the 1920s was 1002 Lovejoy Street, which is still the address on the Cricket Wireless building today.

This document (a Microsoft Word file) about some of Buffalo’s silent era theaters quotes the minutes of the common council meeting of March 1, 1909, containing this information about the first Lovejoy Theatre:

“Christian Mumenthaler and one, to build frame nickelodeon, 25x100x15 feet high, front of lot, northwest corner of Lovejoy and Davey streets.”
It also says that the architect of the Lovejoy Theatre was P.L. Cimini. It also lists him as the architect of the nearby Avon Theatre.
In addition, it says that the first Lovejoy Theater was demolished in the late 1940s, which I originally misread (or mis-remebered) as simply 1940.

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Well this is cool. Two things...

If you look at post 13 my uncle/aunt are sitting on the left side of the photo.


There was a post about a new restaurant opening up on Lovejoy and a poster said "their" uncle ran the bar. Well I had to ask because it my uncle. A woman from his side of the family explain how she was related and had these two photos.

My aunt is the woman sitting all the way on the left and my uncle is standing in the back. I don't know the year but that was a while ago.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2b1d09db_c.jpg



Now this photo is older. I was told it was at someone's wedding. Aunt and uncle are on the right.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...54be339a_b.jpg

Now here's some good news..

Grand Opening

Speak Easy
Spirit-Free for the Free Spirit
Appetizers
Mocktails, Non-Alcoholic Beer
Kambucha & Much More!!!!

Friday September 27th
1194 E. Lovejoy St
6:00 PM - Midnight



https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net...ca&oe=5E008BF2

Just saw this that was posted in July.

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5 women owned business opened in our business district in the past two years and I know of few more opening real soon that are also owned by women. Seeing that we seem to be headed in the right direction and storefronts are starting to fill up again, how does the neighborhood feel about investors purchasing current storefronts and turning them into apartments? I had the pleasure of introducing myself to the real estate agent for 1156 Lovejoy today and he preceded to tell me that many people are interested in buying either to put a “deli/store” or convert it to a 2nd apartment. Neither will ever happen as long I am here, but I’m concerned that real estate agents are not properly representing the community by not telling potential buyers that we are a neighborhood in resurgence and that community groups will not approve of investments that degrade or diminish potential here...

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I see they are talking about my fathers old barber shop. Before that it was a savings and loan type bank before the 70's. I think they hurt the neighborhood when they turned previous store fronts into apartments.

This is really a nice thread bringing back the nostalgia of the past in Buffalo.

Delightful read!

I think it's good that someone is giving it a shot with the bar. Lot of memories and people drank and ate there over the years.

This was the facebook group where I spotted the news about the restaurant opening

https://www.facebook.com/groups/599935473396053/

It's cool that you're learning of these pictures of family
Where are you seeing these posts?

some were in this group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/599935473396053/

and this one

https://www.facebook.com/groups/197541580300733/

There's a new bar in Lovejoy, that isn't really a bar at all

Posted: 6:40 PM, Sep 26, 2019
Updated: 6:54 PM, Sep 26, 2019

Quote:

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LOVEJOY, N.Y. (WKBW) — The saying around Lovejoy's new gathering place is "Spirit-free for the Free Spirit." Sandra and Luther Robinson, with their partner Joe Sciandra, have transformed the former Checkmate Bar and Grill into Speak Easy. Checkmate shut down about a year ago following a shooting outside the establishment .

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https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news...Bm9cX1uLZswUbc



It's cool but weird to see the place open. I remember how it looked when family ran the place. I wish I knew where the photo's went that my uncle had. They used to have parties in the basement. There were photo's of the parties hanging in the basement and few behind the bar.

Interesting

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1975...4831667238369/

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net...7f&oe=5E399045

Quote:

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Greg Siegel‎
Sorry for the long post....My family owned the Lovejoys....my great aunts Ruth and Sara, as some on is page called them the flashlight sisters. love it. these were the sisters of Jake Rappaport who open the 3rd Lovejoy. Sara also ran the candy counter. Also working were my grandfather and mother Jack and Fanny Siegel, Fanny was also a Rappaport. Some of you might remember Jack, he would be the one taking the tickets once you go through big wooden double doors he would sitting on the tall chair on the left. Jack also would spend hours across the street at the firehouse talking and playing checkers during the day before he would have to go back to the theater and get ready for movie time, My grandmother Fanny also help with the flashlights. My uncle Al was the one in the ticket booth in the lobby selling tickets, I remember he had a full head of white hair and always was smiling, he was married to Sara, I spent many Saturdays watching movies and getting free candy. I also got to see first run movies when my parents helped out on opening nights with the large crowd. I always had the best seat in the house watching from the projection booth. I have posted a picture of the 2nd Lovejoy the first one was built in around 1909 and called the Lovejoy Palace. This one open around 1919 by my great 3x Uncle Sam Rappaport. His son Jake opened the "new" Lovejoy down the street. When Jake passed on, is when the rest of the that generation of family members came aboard and helped run the theater until 1975. From '75 to 79 they rented the theater to keep showing movies but that person failed for many reasons. My father became the executive of the estate and was given options what to do with the building and land. it was decided the best thing to was to stop paying taxes and let the city take over the property. I think turning the building into a community pool was the best outcome for everyone in the area and the way to save the art-deco building. I would love to hear your stories about going to the movies. Thank you for letting me ramble.

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Well this is cool

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net...fe&oe=5E1D17DD


I remember the real phone booth that used to be here

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net...7e&oe=5E30C62F

Alcohol-free bar open for one and all in Buffalo

Quote:

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Joe Sciandra and Sandi Robinson opened an alcohol-free bar in the Lovejoy neighborhood of Buffalo.

Indeed, an alcohol-free bar.



"Speakeasy Buffalo is a great atmosphere where people can come and eat in a sober environment."

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https://www.wgrz.com/article/enterta...lhCvpROCSj_3Es

When Prohibition was in effect

This was in 1932. My grandfather used to tell me stories of all the parties they used to have in the basement of the restaurant. There used to be photos hanging in the basement of the parties but I have no clue who ended up with those.

1928 Prohibition Raid

Four Men Arrested when Agents Find Beer, Wine

John R. Hanny and E. E. Smith were arrested Wednesday night in a raid on the saloon at 1283 Niagara street, where dry agents seized two half barrels of beer.
In a visit to the Gold Cafe, the 1903 Broadway, the raiders found 11 halves of beer and a bottle of wine and arrested Michael Dinpfle.
Giuseppe Fracassi was arrested when dry agents found two halves of beer and a bottle of wine in his place at 1194 Lovejoy.




So there is my great grandfather who owned the Lovejoy Tavern before my Grandfather and Uncle. Time flies. That was just over 90 years ago. I wish I took notes when my grand father was alive.

So it looks like he purchased the building in 1922 from the Magnus Beck Brewing Co.

Magnus Beck Brewing Co. to Joseph Fracasso and one, Lovejoy, n. 33 w. Davey. I highlighted with the red arrow.

Quote:

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Magnus Beck Brewing Co. Inc. opened in 1933 and closed in 1955 it was open for 22 years. Items from breweries of this age tend to be more common and less valuable than some breweries. Early items can still be valuable as can rarer types of items. This listing was active during Prohibition which makes it an oddity. Some breweries were able to stay in business by producing "near-beer" which was very low alcohol, some switched over to bottling sodas or other beverages, some became Ice-houses or other related businesses. Magnus Beck Brewing Co. Inc. was in an active brewing city. Buffalo, NY was listed as having 50 breweries, which is quite a few. Sometimes a large number of breweries can lead to an active collecting community that will be willing to pay more for breweriana items than other collectors.

Address Information: 461/475 North Division St

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http://www.oldbreweries.com/brewerie...o-inc-ny-178g/

Quote:

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Beer in Buffalo has a long and storied history, starting with its first drinking establishment – the Cold Spring Tavern – opening in 1805.

Joseph Webb opened the first brewery in Black Rock in 1811 and by 1831, more than 173,000 bushels of wheat passed through Buffalo to become beer. In 1826, Rudolph Baer’s brewery produce the first home-brewed lager in Buffalo and in 1830, Jacob Roos Brewing opened between Church and York Streets. It later became the Iroquois Brewing Company. Magnus Beck Brewery and Downs Brewery joined it in 1840, followed by the Born Brewery (later renamed the Gerhard Lang Brewing Co.) Lang was also one of the first local breweries to reopen after Prohibition, before shuttering in 1949.

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https://buffaloah.com/h/brew/rbcadmin.html

What a small world

So on the day I was born on April 8th 1964 Jim Ostrowski's father met my uncle.

I wonder if Stephen Burr is still alive. He would be about 86

Now this is cool. Someone posted this up in a Lovejoy Group page. It's the building that was across from my grand fathers house/bar. My grand parents knew the owners.

https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net...42&oe=5ECC3DA0

This is google map from 2007..

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8897...!7i3328!8i1664

It's been torn down.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8897...7i13312!8i6656

And this is even cooler. My father was a very good pool player. I see him being mentioned on facebook.

This theater was next to my great grand parent's bar

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2480c13a_o.jpg

This is way cool. There is is in this photo from the 20's. My grand father mentioned the theater quite a bit.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...13383de8_b.jpg

How this was in front of the bar before they remodeled it in the 40's

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...06bb7432_b.jpg

And if you walked through that front door this is what you saw. That was my grand father behind the bar. His sister and brother-in-law were owners also.






https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...18ba5840_b.jpg




And this is when they sold the old bar after the remodel was completed. I wonder where it went.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aedb410a_z.jpg



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...87a8b8ae_c.jpg



Looks like they got in trouble until they started to serve food again. My grand father would tell me stories ALL the time

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aee5f42e_o.jpg

Check it out. My great grandfather's bar is for sale again...

https://www.facebook.com/nathan.marz...17052290374315

Check it out... A new restaurant!!!

1194 lovejoy but the interior doesn't look like what the website shows. Unless they really went overboard and remodeled.




https://khandanikabab.com/