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Fans reflect on old local polka hub
By Helen Jones NEWS STAFF REPORTER
BUFFALO NEWS 09/03/07
It was known as the “Friendly Tavern,” a neighborhood place where you could bring the family, meet friends and listen to some of the best polka music of the day.
Located on Buffalo’s East Side, the Broadway Grill during the 1970s and ’80s was host to some of the most innovative polka music of the time Henry Mazurek, the Broadway Grill’s former owner, had a lot of recollections Sunday, during the first Broadway Grill reunion, held at George F. Lamm Post, American Legion, in Amherst.
As many as 1,000 people from as far away as California, Michigan, Vermont and Florida were on hand to celebrate and look back.
Mazurek, a former Erie County legislator, and his wife, Pat, ran the tavern from 1976 to 1987. Located at 1202 Broadway, the Grill was host to some of the best polka bands in the country, including the tavern’s legendary house band, the Dynatones, who performed together Sunday for the first time in more than 20 years. “We had all kinds of bands come in,” Mazurek said, “even though it was a small venue.”
“It was a magical time,” Marty Biniasz said. “What the Tralf was to jazz, and the Continental to alternative rock, the Broadway Grill was the place where polka music was being reborn.” Lamm Post manager Bob Krawczyk said the Grill was known for good times, good music and great people.
Peter Sloan remembered it as a neighborhood social center.“It wasn’t just a tavern where people came to drink,” he said. “It was a community effort.”One resident of the community, Ed Pilarz of Cheektowaga, paged through scrapbooks on hand, recalling the good times he and his family spent in the tavern.“It was all party, party, party,” he said. “We had a great social club. Lots of camaraderie, lots of friendship.” But he noted it was also the kind of place you could take your entire family and not worry.
Two of the new owners Mazurek sold the Grill to were also in attendance Sunday. Debbie and Greg Harezga actually met at the Grill and were later married. They ran it until it closed in 1990 following a fire.“You had a good time,” Debbie said. “The music, the people. A lot of friends, a lot of fun.”
Musician Tony Winiarz came to the reunion from Mississauga, Ont. Winiarz and his sister used to visit the Broadway Grill on a regular basis. “We were kind of the Canadian ambassadors for the polka scene,” he said. “It was really something unique. There was never any trouble. It was just a good time.”
In addition to the Dynatones, Sunday’s celebration also featured live polka music from Phocus as well as traditional Polish food and refreshments.
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