After years and years of watching the old Park Meadow transition from one restaurant concept to another, new owner/operator Nancy Abramo and her husband Len Mattie feel that they have come up with the ideal plan to create an eating and drinking destination on Parkside Avenue.

After hearing about the plans, that are well underway, I have to agree that the couple has thought this one through, and has come up with a restaurant concept that pays tribute to the building and the neighborhood. “The establishment will also be a museum dedicated to the history of Buffalo, from the years 1880 to 1940,” Len told me. “I’ve been collecting Buffalo memorabilia for years – it’s going to be set up with items of interest everywhere you look, from display cases filled with historic matchbooks and beer growlers to Larkin China cabinets lit up with Larkin products and Pan Am souvenirs… even down to the old business invoices that customers can view through the glass table tops and booth tops.”

When I was a lad, the Park Meadow (or The PM as it was fondly called) was a party place like no other in the city. It was also a thorn in the side of residents in the neighborhood who claimed that the ongoing nightly disturbances affected their quality of life. Once The PM closed, the neighborhood fought hard to make sure that the party scene would not return.

Today the Parkside neighborhood is more of a cultural hub rather than a party spot, thanks to the Phoenix-like rebirth of the Darwin D. Martin House. “My wife and I have put our entire life savings into this building,” noted Len. “We believe that we can attract a good number of the 34,000 people that visit the Darwin Martin House, and those people will want to learn more about the history of the city. It will add to the experience – even people who live in Buffalo will be fascinated by these collections.”

After years of neglect, and virtually rotting away, the building will boast a deco style, “reflective of the very cool transom windows found under plywood hidden for 60 years. As for food, Chef Gary Tenebra, formerly of Café Garangelo on Hertel, will be running the kitchen with a few of his famous favorites on the new menu.”

Name: The Parkside Meadow Bar and Restaurant

When: Opening late spring | Follow all of the action on Facebook | Updates and menu coming soon