Future of Allentown bars hang in the balance with pending sale

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The vacant lots once home to Mulligan’s Brick Bar and The Old Pink on Allen Street in Buffalo could soon undergo a transformation.

Both properties, which have been left abandoned following fires, are under contract for sale to William Roche and his son, Kyle Roche, both Buffalo natives. Kyle Roche, a Canisius High School graduate and now a respected attorney, co-owns Roche Development with his father.

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

The Allentown neighborhood has faced months of uncertainty as two prime properties remained empty after an arsonist set fire to The Old Pink in June of 2024, followed by a January blaze that destroyed Mulligan’s Brick Bar.

Kyle Roche, who recently relocated back to Buffalo, said the news of the fires was heartbreaking.

“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.

William Roche, his father, added while chuckling, “Although Mulligan’s was a four-story building, there was no way anyone could live above it.”

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

The Roche family has not disclosed the combined cost for the two properties, but plans to release the figure next week.

In a statement, acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon confirmed the city’s awareness of the potential sale. However, 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.

WIVB News 4 reached out to the owners of Mulligan's Brick Bar and The Old Pink and are waiting to hear back.