As of the New Year, Buffalo has a great new tavern on its hands that will soon incorporate an unusual food into the mix. Owner Greg Rohall recently purchased the former Our Grill establishment on Amherst Street and has been busy turning it into a comfortable bar that is already attracting patrons from all over the city. How did he do that? He respected the integrity and character of Our Grill while tastefully incorporating elements from other Buffalo businesses that were not so lucky.
To step into Rohall’s Corner is to step into a proud deco Black Rock tavern. From the red leather bumpers on the bar to the green padded retro bar stools (snagged from a tavern in Niagara Falls), Rohall’s Corner is nothing short of miraculous. The fact that it’s owned by a young entrepreneur who understands the nature of the neighborhood and the city is inspiring. Greg even stocks War of 1812 beer, which goes hand-in-hand with the bar’s preserved vibe. The lit-green deco glass block entranceway illuminates the front of the tavern while candlelit tables beckon customers to enjoy an intimate seating arrangement. The cafe tables are made from reclaimed bowling alley lanes – a fun conversation piece when seated at one of the salvaged church pews.
Rarely do you find a tavern that goes so far as to restore the old wooden fridges behind the bar. Normally its quicker and cheaper to remove them or use them for dry storage. Thankfully, Greg opted to restore the fridges, thus keeping with the original look and operational flow of the back bar. A couple of well-positioned neon beer signs and trays keep the clutter down to a minimum. Eventually the plan is to open up the large back room in order to introduce a restaurant specializing in Hungarian food – look out Black Rock! This will certainly become another welcome addition to a neighborhood that has seen a welcomed rebirth over the last couple of years.
Opens 4:00pm Tuesday through Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday. Closed on Monday.
Rohall’s Corner
540 Amherst Street (near Wegmans)
Buffalo NY
716.939.2087