Back in May, an announcement was made that The Tralf, a beloved live music institution in the Theater District, would be vacating its longtime home at 622 Main Street (Theater Place). Needless to say, it’s been a long summer, thinking about the future of the homeless institution.
Thankfully, The Tralf and Character: A Property Company have now entered into an agreement to extend their relationship, which means that the music hall will be reopening this coming September. This is great news for downtown, which has relied on the The Tralf since it first moved into the building in 1982.
Per Eamon Riley Director of Development at Legacy Development, it was The Tralf that initially elected to end its lease early, due to the uncertainty of the pandemic and the restrictions at hand.
That decision led to a plan to convert the space into additional apartments. But as the pandemic began to ease up, with more people being vaccinated, The Tralf (operated by concert promoter Tom Barone) decided that it would be best to renew its lease.
Now, The Tralf is being considered the anchor tenant of the building. An additional 5,000 square feet of office space will also be available.
“We’re happy to announce that Tralf Music Hall owner Tom Barone has reached an agreement with Theatre Place ownership that ensures the long term survival of the legendary downtown Buffalo venue. Previous plans to develop the Tralf space as residential units have been shelved. Extensive expansion and renovations to the Tralf are planned for the spring of 2022. Tom Barone has successfully operated the Tralf for fifteen years. His sustained commitment to this important Buffalo cultural institution continues with show announcements coming soon.” – The Tralf Team
The Tralf’s new lease (still in the works) is designed to keep the music venue in place for years to come, with opportunities for expansion and renovation. These steps would accommodate the need for additional bookings per month, as well as better accommodations all around.