the barrel factory newsletter march 17, 2015
DESCRIPTION
The Barrel Factory was built in 1903 in the Old First Ward of Buffalo, NY. Bordered by Hamburg, Republic (formerly Tecumseh), & Vandalia Streets, the huge, multi-level brick structure was home for many decades to Quaker City Cooperage Co., and later to several other local businesses. Known as "The Barrel Factory" to Old First Ward locals, the City of Buffalo granted private railroad rights along Tecumseh St. to the company in 1903, with the Erie Railroad connecting to the company tracks. Located opposite the iconic tavern, Gene McCarthy's/Old First Ward Brewing Co., and just yards from the new Mutual Riverfront Park and Boat Launch on the legendary Buffalo River, the old structure is finally being renovated and re-purposed!Usage will include several new and expanding artisan/craftsman-type local businesses, bringing even more activity and excitement to a great, historic Buffalo neighborhood!Current tenants include Lakeward Spirits, Queen City Malting, and Elevator Alley Kayak. Additional businesses will be announced very soon!TRANSCRIPT
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Alley Kayak is another very ex-
citing addition to The Barrel
Factory, and helps us to achieve
our vision for the rebirth of our
building and for the increasing
appreciation of Buffalos historic
Old First Ward and the legend-
ary Buffalo River, he said.
WNY natives Elizabeth Bragg and
Jason Mendola are co-owners of
Elevator Alley Kayak. They
named the new business in honor
of the historic grain elevators
along the Buffalo River and har-
bor area of Lake Erie.
Jason Mendola noted that Eleva-
tor Alley Kayak will have the best
quality fleet of kayaks in the City,
with options for all kayaking skill
levels. He added, If you have a
kayak already, we will have acces-
sories including life-jackets, pad-
dles, dry-bags and other essen-
tials for a great day of fun and
exploring history and nature on
the water.
Learn more on BarrelFacto-
ry.com here!
See Buffalo Rising article!
Another new business is
coming to The Barrel Facto-
ry in Buffalo with the launch-
ing of Elevator Alley Kayak.
The start-up will begin oper-
ations this spring at the his-
toric, 110-year old landmark
currently undergoing rede-
velopment in the citys Old
First Ward.
Elevator Alley Kayak will special-
ize in history and nature tours
with trained guides, kayaking
lessons, as well as kayak, canoe,
and stand-up paddle board and
accessory rentals and sales. Its
home location at The Barrel
Factory is just yards from the
Buffalo River and Mutual River-
front Park and Boat Launch.
Elevator Alley Kayak will be the
third resident business in The
Barrel Factory, joining the re-
cently announced start-ups,
Lakeward Spirits and Queen City
Malting. Steve Bystran, managing
member of Lazarus Properties,
which is redeveloping the historic
factory building, is thrilled about
the announcement. Elevator
Elevator Alley Kayak comes to The Barrel Factory!
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Lakeward
Spirits
2
Historical
Highlights
2
Old First Ward
Neighborhood
3
More on The
Barrel Factory
4
The Barrel Factory M A R C H 1 7 , 2 0 1 5 O L D F I R S T W A R D , B U F F A L O , N Y
65 Vandalia St.,
corner of Republic &
Hamburg Streets.
2 large parking lots
plus on-street park-
ing available.
45000 SF multi-level,
110-year old land-
mark.
Opposite Gene
McCarthys & Old
First Ward Brewing.
Very near the new
Mutual Riverfront
Park & Boat Launch.
In close proximity to
Canalside, Silo City,
Larkinville, & more.
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK PAGE
The 2015 Shamrock Run and The Old Neighborhood St. Patricks Day Parade were held earlier this month. More local pics on page 3!!!
http://www.barrelfactory.com/elevator-alley-kayak.htmlhttp://www.barrelfactory.com/elevator-alley-kayak.htmlhttp://buffalorising.com/2015/03/elevator-alley-kayak-coming-to-the-barrel-factory-in-buffalos-old-first-ward/http://www.barrelfactory.com/http://www.facebook.com/barrelfactory
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P A G E 2
At right,
Erie Railroad
returns
to
The Barrel
Factory!
Historical Highlights!
Lakeward Spirits to anchor The Barrel Factory! A new micro-
distillery is coming to
The Barrel Factory in
Buffalo with the
launching of
Lakeward Spirits.
The start-up will
serve as an anchor
business when it
begins operations at
the historic, 110-year
old landmark current-
ly undergoing a re-
naissance in the citys
Old First Ward.
Lakeward Spirits will
specialize in making
high-quality, artisanal
whiskeys, gins, and
infusions from
scratch, using local
New York State farm
products. Distillery
operations are ex-
pected to commence
this summer.
The Barrel Factory
also is in talks with
several breweries in-
terested in expanding
their operations and
local presence. Dis-
cussions are also un-
derway to sign addi-
tional artisans, local
producers, and a spe-
cial event caterer at
The Barrel Factory.
Queen City Malting
and Elevator Alley
Kayak have already
signed on!
other local businesses.
Known as "The Barrel Fac-
tory" to Old First Ward
locals, the City of Buffalo
granted private railroad
rights along Tecumseh St.
to the company in 1903,
with the Erie Railroad
connecting to the compa-
ny tracks.
The Barrel Factory was
built in 1903 in the Old
First Ward of Buffalo, NY.
Bordered by Hamburg,
Republic (formerly Te-
cumseh), & Vandalia
Streets, the huge, multi-
level brick structure was
home for many decades to
Quaker City Cooperage
Co., and later to several
T H E B A R R E L F A C T O R Y
In August, local Old First
Ward artist Chris
Kameck created a nearly
life-sized mural of an old
Erie Railroad steam loco-
motive on the southeast
side of the historic factory
building!
More historical highlights
are located here on our
website!
http://www.barrelfactory.com/our-building.htmlhttp://www.barrelfactory.com/our-building.htmlhttp://www.barrelfactory.com/our-building.html
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Our Old First Ward Neighborhood!!!
P A G E 3 O L D F I R S T W A R D , B U F F A L O , N Y
We're truly happy that "The Barrel
Factory" is located opposite the
iconic tavern, Gene McCarthy's,
and its Old First Ward Brewery,
and just yards from the new Mutual
Riverfront Park and Boat Launch on
the legendary Buffalo River. As our
historic structure is finally renovat-
ed and re-purposed, usage will
include several new and expanding
local artisan/craftsman-type busi-
nesses, including Lakeward Spirits,
Elevator Alley Kayak, & Queen City
Malting, bringing even more activity
and excitement to a great, historic
Buffalo neighborhood!
Other nearby neighbors include
Buffalo River Fest Park, River-
Works, Adolfs Old First Ward
Tavern, Ballyhoo, Swannie House,
& Mazureks Bakery.
Also in close proximity are the
Cobblestone District, Canalside,
HarborCenter, Seneca Casino,
Downtown, Larkin Square, River-
bend, Coca-Cola Field, First Niaga-
ra Center, Buffalo Naval Park, and
more.
Visit our website to check out a
good map of our area!!!
"The First Ward built
Buffalo and, to some
degree, America. The
industries that blossomed
along the shores of the
Buffalo River and Lake
Erie are largely
responsible for creating
Buffalo as a
manufacturing and
industrial powerhouse
from the early 1800s
through the mid-1900s.
Buffalos industrial
strength fueled American
economic growth and
expansion." - PBS
WNED-TV
documentary "Buffalo's
First Ward"
Above, Gene McCarthys float approaches at the Old Neighborhood St. Patricks Day Parade on March 14th.
Caution: Deer Crossing on the Buffalo River in early March!
Left, Geno McManus performs at Adolfs Old First Ward Tavern after the March 14th St. Pats Parade!
Reindeer seen at OConnell & Vandalia Streets during the Old Neighborhood Parade!
http://www.barrelfactory.com/map--useful-links.htmlhttp://www.barrelfactory.com/map--useful-links.html
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Old First Ward
65 Vandalia Street
Corner of Republic & Hamburg Streets
Buffalo, NY 14204
Phone: 716-465-5158
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.barrelfactory.com
THE BARREL FACTORY
HERITAGE, INNOVATION, QUALITY Were on Facebook!
DREAMING
OF
SPRING
at
The
Barrel
Factory,
Old First
Ward,
Buffalo,
NY!
http://www.barrelfactory.comhttp://www.facebook.com/barrelfactoryhttp://www.facebook.com/barrelfactory