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!
I want people to come and visit me, that's all. I don't sell take out. They can make thier own (pierogies), but they won't be like mine.
Ron & Lottie, April 21, 2011
Forgotten Buffalo's favorite "Polish Aunt."
Welcome to the Fan Page of Lottie Pikuzinski. Lottie and her husband Ronnie are the owners of the R & L Lounge on 23 Mills Street in Buffalo's Polonia Historic District. Visiting the R&L is like sitting around the kitchen table with relatives…that’s why people keep on coming back time after time. The “R & L” sits across the street from what was once Sattlers 998 Broadway. This neighborhood joint has served as a tavern for over 75 years with the Pikuzinski’s at the helm since 1969. Known for their famous Polish lunches featuring homemade pierogies and golabki, they serve dinner only on Friday. Sattlers Department Store was one of the largest retailers in Western New York for over 100 years. Its flagship store on Broadway featured seven floors of goods including a supermarket, pet store and a large home furnishing department. The Broadway Fillmore Business District, in many ways, rivaled the Main Street Business District in number of stores and volume of customers. In addition to Sattler’s, this strip of Broadway also hosted the flagship Kobacker’s, Eckhardt’s (Sears) and Postmanture’s Department Stores along with over 100 specialty shops. Include the Broadway Market and you had a Western New York shopping Mecca.
Click image to read May 2010 Buffalo News article
"People call and say, will you sell me a dozen (pierogi)? I say NO. You have to come in and have a drink...eat it here."
Lottie & Eddy during a Forgotten Buffalo Tour
I have a lot of tolerance. I just listen. A bartender is like a psychiatrist. You've got to listen and give them ideas also. They'll tell you their whole life story, cry and whatnot. All their good stories and their bad stories.
Lottie welcomes you, like family, to the famous R&L Lounge in Buffalo Polonia District
Ron & Lottie dance...
As seen at the R&L Lounge
Live polka music during a Forgotten Buffalo Tour at the R&L Lounge
"Sit Down, have a drink....and some pierogi.
I think that's why a lot of bars don't make it. Becasue they're not trained to be people's people, they are trained to serve drinks. That's not what people are coming out for. They come out, they want to have someone to talk to.
WKBW-TV's Good Morning Western New York Stops By the R&L
WKBW's Bridget Blythe and Mike Randell hang out with Lottie and Ron
