Buffalo Bar Likely To Be Demolished Wednesday Morning

Despite the brick perimeter standing literally among the ashes, Mulligan’s Brick Bar will be torn down Wednesday morning following a devastating fire early Sunday.

In a statement released Monday evening, Kim Rossi, the bar’s owner, confirmed the sad news. “After many conversations with city officials and careful consideration, we are in agreement to proceed with the demolition of Mulligan’s Brick Bar for the safety of the surrounding community and to prevent any further negative impact on neighboring businesses,” she says.

Any items that hold historical significance and can be salvaged will be donated to the Buffalo History Museum for future preservation, Rossi says. “This was never just my bar—it belonged to all of you. The memories we made together will always be cherished, and I cannot thank the community enough for your unwavering support.”

On the bar’s Facebook page, Rossi warns people against donating to a GoFundMe established in the name of Rossi’s late partner, as it is not something she is part of and believes it to be a scam.

Demolition of Brick Bar was originally slated to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, but Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon issued a statement late Monday delaying those efforts until Wednesday morning.

“After conversations with all interested parties, including the building owner, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, and community representatives, I have decided to place a temporary pause on the demolition of 229 Allen Street (Mulligan's Brick Bar),” Scanlon said on his Facebook page “This pause will allow for further discussions to explore potential stabilization options for the building. Should a viable solution not be reached, demolition will proceed as planned on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 9:00 AM.”

Preservation Buffalo Niagara had been working all day Monday with the city and Rossi. Up until Monday afternoon, trying to determine whether the building’s facade might be salvageable. “The Historic Tax Credit program is a powerful tool—if the building is demolished, it will not be available. If it is stabilized and retained, the future project will likely be able to access the tax credit program, which is a critical program for redevelopment.” However, the group noted the owner’s decision would likely take priority in the fate of the building.

The fire’s cause is ruled as “undetermined” as of Monday night, but investigators from the Buffalo Fire Department believe it might have been accidentally caused by an electrical or mechanical malfunction.

Scanlon echoed Rossi’s sentiment about the importance of Brick Bar and the weight of its loss.

“The loss of Mulligan’s Brick Bar is truly a heartbreaking moment for the Allentown community and the entire city of Buffalo,” he said Monday. “For years, Mulligan’s has been more than just a bar—it was a gathering place where friends became family and memories were made.”

He adds that while there were discussions about possibly preserving the exterior of the building to “avoid total demolition,” the risk was too high, and the city and Rossi agreed it was better to move quickly for the good of the neighborhood.

“I kindly ask members of the community to respect the owner’s property during this challenging time and refrain from trespassing on the site and attempting to remove anything from the property,” he added.

Now, in just six months’ time, there will be two adjacent vacant lots on Allen Street in the heart of the neighborhood, where the Pink and Brick Bar once stood. The pink flamingos placed in the ground as a memorial to the Pink were photographed covered in ice Sunday morning following the Brick Bar fire.

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