Bars in Allentown face uncertain future amid sale talks

Buffalo's Allentown Neighborhood Awaits Transformation

Buffalo, New York, is on the brink of a significant change in its Allentown neighborhood. Two vacant lots that once housed Mulligan’s Brick Bar and The Old Pink on Allen Street may soon be transformed into something new and meaningful for the community.

William Roche and his son, Kyle Roche, both native Buffalonians, have entered into a contract to purchase these properties. Kyle, a Canisius High School graduate and respected attorney, co-owns Roche Development with his father. The pair has shown a deep commitment to the area, emphasizing the importance of revitalizing the neighborhood while respecting its history.

“What can we do here that brings pride to the Allentown area?” Kyle asked. “I think this is one of the most important neighborhoods in Buffalo, both historically and from a community perspective.”

The Allentown neighborhood has faced challenges over the past months as two key properties remained empty following a series of fires. In June 2024, an arsonist set fire to The Old Pink, and in January, a blaze destroyed Mulligan’s Brick Bar. These incidents left the community in uncertainty, but the Roche family sees an opportunity for renewal.

Kyle, who recently returned to Buffalo, expressed his emotional response to the fires. “With the Brick Bar, I mean, my dad can speak to this, it’s almost a rite of passage to have visited Mulligan’s at least once when you grew up in Buffalo,” he said.

His father, William, added with a chuckle, “Although Mulligan’s was a four-story building, there was no way anyone could live above it.” Despite the loss, the Roche family remains focused on the future.

Roche Development, which also owns a property at 162 Allen St., had been negotiating the purchase of the two bar properties since early 2024, when Mulligan’s was first listed for sale. However, disputes over pricing initially caused the developers to step back.

“It was a bit too much to do a rehab at that time,” Kyle said. Three months ago, real estate agent Carmelo Parlato, representing both buyer and seller, reached out again, reigniting the discussions and bringing the developers back to the table.

“It’s humbling and really a cool opportunity to be part of something new in this area while respecting its historical roots,” Kyle said.

While the combined cost of the two properties has not been disclosed, the Roche family plans to release the figure next week. Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon confirmed the city’s awareness of the potential sale, though he noted that the city still owns the parking lot between the two sites and has not yet met with the prospective buyers.

“If there is a vision for a unified project here, it would be exciting to explore that with the city,” Kyle said.

Scanlon added that the city would work with any buyer to ensure that “any potential redevelopment includes community engagement, adheres to the standards of the Allentown Historic Preservation District, and meets the city’s MWBE goals.”

William emphasized that the redevelopment would involve a new, multi-use building designed to complement the area’s historic structures. “It’s going to be a new build, but we are going up against buildings that are 152 to 200 years old,” he said. “A lot of thought will go into making the new structure fit the neighborhood.”

“When we’re done, I think success will be measured by whether the community can continue to gather in that space,” Kyle said.

If all goes according to plan, the sale of the properties is expected to close next week, with construction set to begin sometime next year. The Roche family is optimistic about the future of the Allentown neighborhood and the role they will play in its transformation.