WELCOME TO FORGOTTEN BUFFALO

By the fall of 1945, the celebrations that marked the end of World War II had ceased. Americans quickly began to look for ways to return to a sense of normality. East Side resident Chester Nawrocki saw prosperity in his future. Like many during those years, he was involved in the war effort working at an East Side plant that made a product (tallow) used in the production of ammunitions. With business nearing an end, Chester set his fortunes on the tavern trade. In November of 1945, Chester and his wife Helen opened the doors to Nawrocki’s Grill located at 1265 Broadway. The little tavern would soon become a center of neighborhood political and social activities what would last for 30 years.    

Chester Nawrocki grew up on Schmarbeck Street located off Broadway in the St. John Kanty’s Parish area. His future wife, Helen Falkiewicz, grew up one block away on Rommel St. A lover of baseball, Chester played catcher and 1^st basemen on local teams sponsored by East Side businesses that included Ferry's Dairy and Zoladz Lumber on Bailey Ave.

“My Parents met when the girls in the neighborhood would see the boys’ baseball games at the local playground,” recalls Doreen Nawrocki, daughter of the owners.  “After the games they would attend team sponsored parties in the backroom of corner gin mills. When funeral wakes were held in private homes, Helen’s mother took her to my father’s house when my father's mother died.”

Married at St. Joachim's Church in 1940, the couple gave birth to their first child in 1942. The Nawrocki’s would raise a total of six children while tending to the daily tavern business.

The location of the tavern was on a heavily traveled section of Broadway consisting of well maintained small business, light industrial buildings and railroad tracks that feed the busy Central Terminal. From this section of Broadway you could see the Terminal’s clock tower that loomed over the neighborhood as well as the steeples of St. Adalbert’s. Surrounding businesses included Skowron Press, Kaminski’s Deli, a typewriter store and a tailor. Nowak's Bar and Boarding House was across Young Street and Jakiel Lumber Yard was open for business near the viaduct at Memorial Dr.

Common with many taverns, the Nawrocki’s lived “over the tavern.” Additional space in the small building was rented out to boarders who were frequently older gentlemen. There were no paid employees at the Grill as the Nawrocki’s relayed on family members to keep the business staffed. Parents, in-laws and Chester’s brother Alfred, a decorated WWII veteran, gave the Grill a family atmosphere. In the kitchen, Nawrocki’s Grill featured daily homemade soups (oxtail, borsch, and czarnina), pierogies, hamburgers and the classic East Side fish fry’s.

Although the tavern business provided sufficient revenue for the family, Chester earned extra income working for the New York Central Railroad and Helen worked part time as a banquet waitress. In later years Helen earned her college degree and became a school teacher. She taught in West Seneca until she retired in 19**.

The 6th Ward Republican Club met at the bar once a month as Chester was a district committee man. Leonard Gramza, owner of a cigar store located at 1433 Broadway, was its President. The tavern also sponsored a social organization named Nawrocki's Booster Club (later named the Silver Dollar Club).  There were monthly meetings and numerous social events including summer picnics at local groves and large children’s Christmas parties in the bar’s backroom.

“My fondest memories were the great parties that the tavern hosted,” remembers Doreen. “My brothers and sisters were responsible for decorating three live Christmas trees. One in the bar, one in the backroom and our family tree upstairs. There were always lots of great people around and many of our boarders, who were almost like family, I remember to this day.”   

With Chester’s passing in 1969, Helen continued to run the business until 1974 when it was sold.  Today the building still stands occupied by a Chinese restaurant. Helen is 84 and currently resides in West Seneca.