An Urban Explorer's Guide to the Buffalo-Niagara Region: Unique Landmarks, Historic Gin Mills, Old World Neighborhoods, History, Nickel City Oddities, Tours and More!
DILL'S TAVERN - 362 Military Road A Textbook Buffalo Tavern in Black Rock
Dills Tavern is one of the best-preserved, blue-collar taverns remaining in Buffalo. Known as Stanley’s Tavern for over 40 years, Bill Dill has manned the bar for over 27 years. Founded by Stanley Zastenpowski and family, the primary customers were the immigrant men who worked at the nearby American Brass Factory. Grandma Zastenpowski served up home cooked meals in the kitchen while Stan’s brothers helped tend the bar. Like many taverns at the time, Dills would cash payroll checks and was known for its lunchtime honor system. When the factory break whistle sounded, workers would race down to the tavern to find a bar filled with glasses of beer ready for consumption. Patrons would drink and eat what they wanted and would then leave money on the bar before racing back to the foundry.
Note the preserved bar and back bar, phone booth, tin ceiling, wooden tavern tables & chairs, and vintage beer cooler - Dill's has all the elements of a classic Buffalo tavern.
Vintage Tin- square on left is the orginial color, square on left is what it looked liked before restoration. The yellow tin is post restoration. Shows effect of years of smoking.
Owner Bill Dill (on left) is a retired Buffalo Fireman. Secret to Dill's success? Good, hard-working patrons who like to share a beer and conversation after work.
