New York residents were left devastated after a beloved local bar in Buffalo was destroyed by fire.
The Old Pink Bar and Grill on Allen Street, which has been open since the 1990s, was severely damaged after going up in flames on Monday around 5:30am.
Dozens of firefighters put out the fire in Allentown around 5:45 a.m., but authorities said they were unable to enter the building because the inferno was so intense. No one was inside or injured and it is unclear what caused the fire. WGRZ reported.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, as the wooden bar sustained $1.25 million in damage and has been deemed a total loss, investigators said.
Uncontrollable flames and thick smoke spread to nearby streets, while some remained closed early Monday morning.
The Old Pink Bar and Grill on Allen Street was severely damaged after catching fire on Monday around 5:30 a.m.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, as the wooden bar sustained $1.25 million in damage and has been deemed a total loss. (pictured: the bar before the fire)
The Old Pink is considered an iconic Buffalo landmark that its owner, Molly Brinkworth, has been running for more than three decades.
“It became a home, a family for a lot of people,” Colleen Evans, Brinkworth’s daughter, said in an interview. GoFundMe page.
‘Open every day, it was the first place you wanted to enjoy while you were home on Thanksgiving, or the perfect place for a steak sandwich on Christmas night, the place you could always count on. to meet or make new friends, and for all generations. enjoy. It was… now it’s gone.
The building was first known as Jimmie Oates Pub before it was renamed Birdie’s 19th Hole in the 1970s. In 1983, Mark Supples rented the bar to Brinkworth’s family and named it Pink Flamingo, which was later shortened to The Pink.
The bar is known for its dark and dingy interior, filled with black lights and music that many Western New Yorkers enjoy.
It’s also famous for its beloved bar dishes, including its iconic steak sandwiches that were added to the menu by Brinkworth’s father and uncle, Dennis and Kevin.
The bar is known for its dark and dingy interior, filled with black lights and music that many Western New Yorkers enjoy.
The Old Pink is considered an iconic Buffalo landmark that its owner, Molly Brinkworth, has been running for more than three decades. (Pictured: New York State Senator Sean Ryan at the scene after the fire)
They brought the steak sandwich to the local bar after being inspired by a small New York City restaurant. buffalo uprising reported.
Brinkworth told the outlet that since the sandwich’s inception, the recipe has remained the same.
Many heartbroken customers took to social media to pay tribute to the Old Pink after the fire.
“The Pink was such an iconic Buffalo staple that I’m sure thousands of us have amazing memories (not to mention the steak bomb sandwiches),” said one.
‘Many phases of my life were documented in The Old Pink bathroom, RIP, my all-time favorite dive bar. “I will miss your red lights, your dirty floors and your broken toilet seats more than I can say,” another wrote.
Another said: “Today we are mourning the loss of a milestone.”
Amanda Lopez, a local resident who lives right across the street from the Old Pink, said WIVB: “It’s definitely very sad to see.”
“There are so many people who have so many memories there that I’m thinking about the steak sandwiches, all the good times when the bars close and the rosés are always open.”
The Old Pink is also known for its beloved bar dishes, including its iconic steak sandwiches that were added to the menu by Brinkworth’s father and uncle, Dennis and Kevin.
“It’s always available to people, so I know a lot of people will have a hard time dealing with it.” “It has been there for a long time, not only for my generation, but also for the generations before me,” López added.
New York State Senator Sean Ryan also shared memories of the Buffalo staple.
‘This bar was an icon. Not just for this neighborhood, but for all of WNY. “One of my employees met her husband there,” she said.
“I’m doing some plumbing at my house and he’s from Holland, New York, but he met his wife here.”
‘I’ve been through… almost all my stages of adulthood were in The Pink. “I was probably here before I was supposed to be here and I was going to leave, but this was the place… I’m going to miss it,” Ryan added.
As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe page has raised $2,255 to help Brinkworth and her staff.
WKBM He said emergency demolition of the burned building was ordered.
Officials are focusing on one area of the bar, but it is still unclear what sparked the flames.
‘Today was a devastating day for our staff, our community and the Brinkworth family. “The Old Pink is currently being torn down and, by the end of the day, will be completely gone,” the bar said in a statement. Instagram post.
‘Please come to the site and cry with us. Our legacy will live on through you.’
