The Thirsty Buffalo Sticks To The Original Game Plan
Some say that there is no reason to reinvent the wheel when it comes to good cuisine. When Rick Naylon ran Jimmy Mac's, the restaurant was quite the hotspot. Yes, there was a big bar following back then, but people still recall how good (and consistent) the food was. Remember the Onassis salad?
As coincidence would have it, Rick Naylon was also the guy who brokered the deal for the soon-to-open Thirsty Buffalo. Restaurant partner Greg Andreozzi told me that even after the deal went through, Rick has been helping to get the Thirsty Buffalo back to the basics. He even offered to help with the menu. Add to that, one of the original Jimmy Mac's cooks is coming back to work in the kitchen. So for anyone who still misses the old Jimmy Mac's formula, you will be glad to know that the latest owners want to have a few of the old favorites on the menu.
As far as the remaining details, the Thirsty Buffalo signs are up, the flat screens are mounted, the ceiling fans are installed, and the floors and tin ceilings are being cleaned up. The booth seating area in the back has been removed in lieu of pub tables and chairs. That has opened up the whole rear of the restaurant. Other than that, the enclosed glass patio and the side party room are just waiting for the green light (liquor license) and the finishing touches. With all of the flatscreens, this will surely be a sports lovers bar on Elmwood... Go Bills in Buffalo!
See original Thirsty Buffalo post here.
Thirsty Buffalo 555 Elmwood - corner of Elmwood and Anderson.
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Comment Options
gaustad
Exactly what Buffalo and Elmwood Ave needs....as an FYI to future bar owners, find some good looking ladies to work at the bar and put on some music from this decade and I think people will come to hang out.
Jimmy Macs was a booooring place with no energy.
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AvaRouge
Hope they checked in with Gaustad about their menu prices, the G has the pulse of the WNY market. Then again, this is the same character who just said today in another thread:
"Elmwood still has a ways to go. There are two trinket stores, and the same bumbs hanging out on the corners."
LOL!
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TheNextMayor
I'm glad not every bar is like Chip where you hear the same hip hop music pounding so loud you have to yell to the person next to you in order to have a conversation.
Glad this neighborhood bar is reopening.
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vgs
It didn't really workout for Naylon in the end so why the hell would anyone bring him on as a consultant. The food was "good" because it was the 80's, problem was it never changed, and the place just got tired. Supples tried a similar menu and struck out. I'm afraid this place needs a 180 degree change not to go back to its worn out roots.
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r129
I don't know if that font was the best choice...
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kfitzgerald
Multiple TV sets = bullshit bar.
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urbansoul
I liked Jimmy Mac's, don't get me wrong. I went there quite a bit for the wings and patio. BUT----why NOT reinvent the wheel on the cuisine? It didn't work twice....why would it a work a third time around?
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kooksapalooza
but but but we already have bars and food places so im just going to complain like everybody else (except gaustad, surprisingly enough!)
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CRobs
The reason Jimmy Macs continuosly fails is the lack of floor space in the bar area. That place is it's own worst enemy - if it gets busy, customers are deterred by the congestion. Who the F wants to rub shoulders with some pompous douchebag attorney that generally used to hang out there? Not me, nor any of the people I hang out with. Those pictures look a bit more promising, so hopefully it will be a cool place to hang and have a cold one. Otherwise, that place will always just be a GREAT location, HORRIBLE setup.
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gaustad
AvaRouge, you are sooo clever to pull a quote from another post. I bet that made your entire week.
Elmwood does have two trinket stores and has a ways to go....what does that have to do with what I said about this bar?
Elmwood needs a good sports bar, which is eactly what this is. Jimmy Mac was half sports bar/half lounge.
The guys from average joes know how to run a bar. Their place in Amherst is packed with hot babes.
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hilaritee
i hope it is not too much like jimmy mac's of late, that place had a very creepy feel to it...lots of middle aged lecherous men who had their glory days back in 1985. it felt like walking in to a semi private club that had low membership standards. some change would be nice
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jattea
Yikes, why would they replace such a beautiful custom-made backlit sign with that $50 piece of trash? That generic Microsoft typeface is horrible.
I like their other logo (the round one). Maybe dimension restrictions disallowed them from using that as their primary sign, but it shows that they are willing to invest some money in a good branding.
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hilaritee
i hope it is not too much like jimmy mac's of late, that place had a very creepy feel to it...lots of middle aged lecherous men who had their glory days back in 1985. it felt like walking in to a semi private club that had low membership standards. some change would be nice
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Auburner
If it smells like a pig, tastes like a pig, looks like a pig... chances are, it might be a pig. Loose the stucco store front complete with the tacky smoked glass and replace with original brick and bright windows. A bit more inviting, I would think. Ditch the circa 1977 wide tied lawyers and please, chicken wings? Time for Buffalo, thirsty or not, to go on a trans fat diet.
Also, Gustoff? Do you wear bandages on your knuckles or do they drag on the concrete naturally? Just kidding
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dagner
The "singles" bar vibe kept my circle from Jimmie Mac's. As a form of cultural tourism, I would take visitors there just to witness/experience the 70's trashiness of being ogled by a group of all-too-regulars at the bar as you squeezed past them to get to the bathroom. The new layout may elmiinate the problem.
We liked the food, particularly the salads, but we had to get our courage up to go there.
Happy Opening!
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NorPark
Any updates on Benchwarmers bar, in the cobblestone? I thought they were supposed to open a while ago, haven't heard anything since. Regardless, congrats to the Thristy Bison, and best of luck.
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Dakovich
first, a "true" sports bar is sorrowly needed down this way. typically all we get is joints that throw up 3 flat screens and then add "-and sports bar-" to the end of their name and they think that signifies a sports bar. not so much, sorry. so hopefully this place finds a better connection to what a sports bar should be, who it should cater to, and what it should cater to.
second, just because Average Joes is filled with "hotties" does not mean these guys know what they're doing. not saying they don't, i like that place, but the concept for that place isn't exactly genius. there are a ton of young "hotties" out that way. they go to the local college, a lot from the local highschools, and a bunch more who flunked outta highschool or never went to college...either way, same demographic. Average Joes gave them a third option between going to Buffalo Wild Wings, or Slick Willies. WWW is cool, but too many kids running around and they raised the beer prices so its not worth it so much anymore. Slick Willies....well, come one. that place gives me the willies. Slicks is also cool for what it is but its a dive without the good feelings you get from a nice nostalgic Allentown dive bar. those joints got class, Slicks, not so much. Add the fact Average Joes has plenty of parking and its a lot closer to those "hotties" apartments....by apartments i mean parents house...and you've got a great off-day party place, and its even nice on the weekends. Its a suburban "hotties" dream.
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Dakovich
first, a "true" sports bar is sorrowly needed down this way. typically all we get is joints that throw up 3 flat screens and then add "-and sports bar-" to the end of their name and they think that signifies a sports bar. not so much, sorry. so hopefully this place finds a better connection to what a sports bar should be, who it should cater to, and what it should cater to.
second, just because Average Joes is filled with "hotties" does not mean these guys know what they're doing. not saying they don't, i like that place, but the concept for that place isn't exactly genius. there are a ton of young "hotties" out that way. they go to the local college, a lot from the local highschools, and a bunch more who flunked outta highschool or never went to college...either way, same demographic. Average Joes gave them a third option between going to Buffalo Wild Wings, or Slick Willies. WWW is cool, but too many kids running around and they raised the beer prices so its not worth it so much anymore. Slick Willies....well, come one. that place gives me the willies. Slicks is also cool for what it is but its a dive without the good feelings you get from a nice nostalgic Allentown dive bar. those joints got class, Slicks, not so much. Add the fact Average Joes has plenty of parking and its a lot closer to those "hotties" apartments....by apartments i mean parents house...and you've got a great off-day party place, and its even nice on the weekends. Its a suburban "hotties" dream.
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