If you're a fan of Mark and Charlie Goldman's Allen Street Hardware Café, then you'll be glad to hear that they are expanding towards the back of the building. I asked Mark what brought on the expansion plan and he told me that the additional room would allow them to add a different type of bar-scene to the space. The back room is not a huge addition, but it will give Hardware a different feel that it has at this time.
The back room will be a place to get away from the two bustling front bars. It's going to be a cozy addition... brick on one wall, clapboard on another. That's because the addition is being built in-between the Hardware building and the brick structure in back. It's an unusual idea, but when you run out of room to expand, then you must be creative. This will be the third expansion that Mark and Charlie have set out to do. The first was the addition of the former Storehouse 22 gallery. That expansion allowed for live music to become part of standard operations. It also livened up the place so that the second expansion towards the rear of the space was necessary. It also allowed the owners to connect the two main spaces at the back of the building by hallway.
As the business grew... so did the noise. Between the crowd and the live music, Mark and Charlie wanted a place where people could go to get away from the noise and the crowd. This addition will give them a lounge of sorts... a cozy, atmospheric getaway. The addition will be complete in approximately three weeks.
Allen St Hardware Store Café
245 Allen St. | Buffalo, NY 14201 | (716) 882-8843