Local Businesses Help Former Old Pink Employees

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – It’s been nearly two weeks since the Old Pink fire in Allentown. Now, other Buffalo bars are doing what they can to help former employees get back on their feet.

Paul Baggs, the manager of Mulligan’s Brick Bar, was notified of the fire just hours after it happened. He had just returned home from closing his establishment when he started seeing pictures online.

Baggs knew he wanted to help in any way he could. He described the Allen Street businesses as a close-knit community.

“Some people think the Old Pink was one type of bar and Mulligan’s was very different,” Baggs said. “The reality is we’ve always shared a crowd. People would go out and have a few drinks, then they would get hungry and want a steak sandwich, so they would go next door or vice versa.

Baggs said a lot was going through his mind when he finally arrived at the scene of the fire. At first he was worried that Mulligan would be damaged. After realizing the fire was under control, he started thinking about everyone affected, including the Old Pink employees.

“You don’t expect to lose your job like that,” Baggs said. “Maybe someone needs money right away. It’s the end of the month, people have to pay their rent.”

After talking with the bar owner, it was decided that Mulligan’s would now be open seven days a week. The business had been operating five days a week since the COVID-19 pandemic, but Mulligan’s wanted to make up for the loss of the Old Pink, which was once open every day.

The bar also hired two former Old Pink bartenders, a janitor and a bouncer. Thanks to these extended hours, business boomed. Baggs said the response from Buffalo residents has been indescribable.

“We get credit for doing all of this, but it was remarkably easy because you just work with what you have,” Baggs said. “We had a little bit of wiggle room and we just helped out.”

Mulligan’s is not the only establishment to make a gesture of “good neighborliness”.

Cole’s, located on Elmwood Avenue, has added a steak sandwich to its menu called “The Ode to the Old Pink.” It’s a 12-ounce slice of sirloin with red peppers and onions simmered in Guinness, topped with provolone cheese and served with fries and a pickle.

Cole’s is donating 25% of the profits made from the sale of the $30 sandwich to Old Pink employees. The restaurant has already raised $1,000.

“People have been talking about it. We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback,” Cole’s executive chef Tim Wornick said. “We’ve probably sold about 180 of them right now and we’re going to keep them going through the end of next week.”

A GoFundMe campaign has also been created to help raise funds for the company. As of Friday, it has raised over $48,000. If you would like to donate, you can do so here.