Adam Gold fell in love with the Water Street Music Hall while still a student at Syracuse University, and he also played the venue as a musician. Last year, when he heard that the turn-of-the-20th-century building was available, he jumped at the opportunity.

"I just couldn’t help myself to try to operate a business in that location," he said. He opened the third location of Funk 'n Waffles, a popular Syracuse business that serves up roughly two dozen eclectic waffle creations as well as nightly musical entertainment.

Business has gone well since it opened last year, he said, but not well enough to sustain the operation in the large, aging building that has proven expensive to run. The operation will close at 204 N. Water St. on Sunday — but the hope is that business isn't gone for good.

"We love Rochester,” he said. "We did well. It just wasn’t enough for that space.” Gold is closing on Water Street as he hunts for a Rochester location that is smaller and has more foot traffic.

Gold, a native of New Jersey, opened the first Funk ’n Waffles in 2007, and a second in Syracuse's Armory Square in 2014. The original Syracuse location closed last year.

The Food Network’s Guy Fieri has featured Gold and his waffle creations on four episodes of his shows, including Guy’s Grocery Games and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

When he opened in downtown Rochester, Gold was undaunted that the former warehouse at 204 N. Water St. was not in a high-traffic area, noting that the first Funk 'n Waffles location was “as tucked as it gets.” He saw promise in downtown's St. Paul Quarter, encouraged by the nearby businesses as well as housing under construction. He believed that Funk 'n Waffles would be a draw to the area. The location proved more challenging than anticipated.

The Rochester Funk 'n Waffles will have a full lineup of musical acts during its closing week:

• Open mic with Chris Hasenauer at 8:30 p.m. Monday; free admission.

• Siena Facciolo, Dream Float and Ava Sauer at 8 p.m. Tuesday; $5.

• California funk and soul band Orgone, along with The English Project, at 8 p.m. Wednesday; $15 presale, $20 at the door.

• It will be closed Thursday.

• Hayley Jane and The Primates at 10 p.m. Friday; $10 presale, $15 at the door.

• Singer-songwriter Todd Snider with Kevin Gordon at 8 p.m. Saturday; $25 presale and $30 at the door.

It will offer its waffle menu throughout the week, but will be closed Thursday. It will be open 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 a.m Saturday. The final brunch will be served from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

TRACYS@Gannett.com