Essex Street: A 'People's Pub'
Last evening I asked Peter Goretti (photo: Essex owner) how he came to be owner of such an obscure neighborhood pub. "I came here to eat lunch one day," he told me. "Let's see... it was twenty years ago and there was a deli here. I was thirty-years old and I thought how I could make it into a real fun bar. I always wanted it to be a 'people's place'. When I first opened this neighborhood was really tough. It was a real bad 'hood'. I used to keep the door locked... and inside there were terrible drop ceilings... it was a mess. I opened it up and the bar came alive with character... and characters."
Now Essex is surrounded by other establishments such as Prime 490 and Left Bank. It's also down the street from the Big Orbit complex and the Griffis Studios... and if you want to experience Essex at its finest, head there this Saturday after the FLASH party.
OPEN 3pm - 4am EVERY DAY | 530 Rhode Island St. Buffalo, NY | (716) 883-2150
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Comment Options
Hoss
My favorite joint in Buffalo. Bartenders rock. Jukebox is decent (not the best, but better than most), Steel tip darts. Pool. Always a fresh bowl of salty snacks within reach. If the Sabres are playing, it's on. A truly diverse crowd that always seems to get along. Be it hipsters, frat boys, teamsters or thugs, I've never once caught any attitude. What more could you ask for.
My only gripe is that they could use a bigger, better bike rack. An outdoor overhead heater would keep me a more regular patron thru the winter months as well.
I'm getting thirsty already. Must be noon somewhere, right?
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scooter
Great Bar. AWESOME Jukebox!
I started going here almost 10 years ago. What a big positive change this neighborhood has gone through.
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halljd39
Any housing for sale at a resonable price in that neighborhood around Essex?
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icecreamsub
not so sure steel tip darts are the best idea for this place. can't think of his name but is the captain still alive?
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Perry
Good bar indeed. You'll see me there after the FLASH party this weekend.
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jerkface
$2 PBR bottles...nuff said.
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sbrof
I have only been to this place once, i must say i had a blast. The people were nice and myself (being a usually quiet person) was talking to a couple people only after a couple minutes.. or was it a couple beers.. Who knows. I ended up talking to one of the chefs from the Hyatt downtown. No pretense, just plain good people.
Imagine when we had city full of these places. Too bad we lost the culture of a couple beers after work. Now people seem to only want to go out for whole evenings to get drunk at ever more expensive and extravagant places. I guess I miss the good ole days... too bad I wasn't alive to be a part of them
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pasta
The bar is nott the same since Carrie (BOOZIE) the bartender left.
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Quinn
sbrof - we still do the couple beers after work. (Having a big dog you have to get home to to let out helps). And 'dives' are the best places to do that. I have never been the martini bar type. My friends and I have a short list of favourite after work beer joints. Makes life worth living.
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icecreamsub
Buffalo is still littered with neigborhhood bars like this. In fact that is the one of the few things that have remained in tact. Most everything else has either left town or shriveled up
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WilliamZabkaAllStars
Dinner at Left Bank + walk across the street for drinks at Essex = perfect evening in Buffalo.
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WestSideLonghorn
Yes, a great bar and a great neighborhood! This area has really improved in recent years. And halljd39, yes there's quite a few properties available in the area (at least 5 for sale now with more to be available soon), not on Essex but just down the street on Massachusetts or Chenango. Email the neighborhood association at essexcorners@gmail.com if you're interested.
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KegWorks
Lots of memories from The Essex. A few years back a few of us were sitting at The Pizza Plant on a Saturday afternoon downing a few pints. Someone was flipping through The Beast and read the review about The Essex and it said something about The Rolling Rock Challenge. Full case of Rock Splits on the bar with a scoop of ice over the top. So we headed down there. After the first case of splits was emptied, all 3 of us broke out the cell phones and tried lure anyone who answered to come on down and join us. Needless to say, 15 people later and far too many cases of Rolling Rock splits....... I forgot the rest of the day.
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KernwatchMN
Halljd39:
There are 11 vacant houses on nearby Chenango btwn Rhode Island & W Ferry, also many vacant houses on both Masachusets & 19th. Prices are very low; 32 19th just sold for $8000.
R. Kern
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