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Karl R. Josker | all galleries >> Buffalo >> The Bars Of Buffalo > Central Park Grill
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07-OCT-2004 Karl R. Josker

Central Park Grill

2519 Main St. Buffalo

This was a good place to hear live music. I used to stop in once in awhile to catch Shakin' Smith and the Black Cat Blues Band. Which of course begs the question, what happened to Shakin' Smith? I haven't seen or heard of him in a few years.

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Tony F. 22-Jun-2019 20:12
I went to UB from 1978-1982, and we went to the CPG many time s- at least once per week. It was just a little bit too far for a comfortable walk in Jan/Feb/Mar so we used to try to get rides. Yes, I should have had the idea for Uber right then and there, but was too busy looking for cheap beer and fun girls.
Paul N. 08-May-2019 17:56
I used to run an open mic at CPG's once a week in '77. I would play a set and then let the list grow and get folks up on stage. I remember Jerry(?) and Ira, two musicians who were great people and regular both as a musical duo and as patrons. About three days into the blizzard of '77 I remember walking the six blocks or so to CPG's due to cabin fever. My nose almost froze off.
Guest 08-Nov-2017 02:42
I went to UB in the mid to late 70’s. My friends and I hung out at CPG’s and the Stuffed Mushroom a block away.
I played Foosball with local, awesome guy Danny Latierri 5 nights a week at CPG’s and was also on the bars softball team. I still have the CPG’s light blue T Shirt! Phil and Dickie were the awesome bartenders.
Dillon & Brady played quite often there. I still have a tape of theirs! “Every Now and Then” was my favorite song of theirs and on my Birthday Phil played it twice for me cause I was so drunk (on Genny Cream Ale) I didn’t pay attention the first time!
I also bartended at the Tralf (Tralfalmadore Cafe) for Ed. Fell in love with the business and opened Continental Bar in Manhattan in 91. Still open but my buildings getting torn down and I only have 10 months left.
Sooo many great memories of that CPG’s.
I visited UB a dozen years ago and of course stopped by CPG’s. Didn’t know the bartender.
But It warmed my heart and brought a tear. Thank you soo soo much for the great times and memories!!!
Kathie T 21-Jul-2017 16:18
used to go there a lot in the 90's...played Golden Tee golf with my boyfrieand and loved to catch Joe Head when he played.
Randy O 06-Sep-2015 08:18
Around 1975-77 I was a CPG regular on jam nights, playing piano and sometimes guitar. This is back when the old Trafalmadore was still a basement club on Main near UB (below the Stuffed Mushroom I think). CPG was the cozier of the two, and some wonderful artists frequented both club's open mics.
Guest 11-Apr-2015 16:40
I remember a midget running back and forth on the bar!?!
Bill F 13-Sep-2011 23:44
I was at UB in the 70s. I remember CPG jam night (Tuesdays). Anyone could bring their axe, but the lineup mostly included the same guys. These were incredible musicians who should have been exposed to a wider audience. Those were great times man.
Guest 30-Jul-2010 00:27
It was CPG in the late 60's and Vietnam was real. "Airborn" occasionally did his jump
from the top of the phone booth inside. And the bigger-than-life urinal was truly
real. I saw it with my own female eyes, coerced by my male college friends who told me I would never see anything like it. I saw it--and never forgot it. LOL
Brian 09-Mar-2009 02:55
My friend, Bob Brown's dad owned the CPG in the late 60's. We had a great time shooting pool and drinking Schmidts. No music other than the jukebox back then but Bobo used to make sure all the latest Beatles tunes were on the box. Thanks for the photo - looks the same as it did back then.
Anna 18-Apr-2008 03:12
Does anybody remember the Outer Circle Orchestra? They played regularly at CPG's in the late 80's, early 90's, maybe even after that. They were like, a 6 or 7-person band or something and specialized in Afro-Cuban, Latin American, and other international-flavored music. They played the kind of music you could picture the mythical Blues Brothers playing. The band had three or four wind instrument players (saxophone, flute, etc), a bongo player, a drummer, somebody on steel drums once in a while, a regular bass player, etc. They were amazing. I remember one song called "Mambo Tequila" that would really bring the house down. My friend Eric Pollard used to be a bartender there, and one time I tried to get in without an ID (the drinking age being 21, and I was a mere 19), and he saw me and still didn't let me in even though he was a good friend. (Or MAYBE because he was a good friend!) I wonder if that group is still around. I loved CPG's -- just a regular bar, not a pick up joint. And in the back they had a pool table and darts. Ah memories.
Guest 01-Sep-2007 17:39
I was never a regular, but used to stop in here from time to time. I enjoyed my time there.
Guest 16-Apr-2007 19:15
ok this is the first place i used a fake id~!
great food . and the largest stand up urinal in the world . looked like a bath tub standing on end . you would open the bathroom door and almost fall into it.
great place .
bene 07-Jun-2006 07:19
I love the CPG, every time i visited, buffalo, its one of the first place's id want to go, to see Gamalon, my favrite band at the time, they're still around. i live here now, i go there all the time, check out gamalon at Video.google.com or youtube.com
ive posted video of them live at the CPG. it like your there!
guest 15-May-2006 15:27
I grew up about 5 blocks from here and we used to refer to it as the "CPG".
Guest 07-Jan-2006 06:44
I used to hang out at this place when I lived in Buffalo.
They used to have Thursday night jam sessions when anyone who could play an instrument could show up and 'get down.' It was really 'smokin' in there on Thursday nights!
I wonder if they still have those sessions?
Amir FaSaad 24-Apr-2005 13:06
Shake, is now in the mid-south (the Carolinas/Virginia) some place.
JW in Omaha 26-Mar-2005 05:29
Gamalon has been a fixture at CPG for (almost?) 20 years. Western New York's best band.
Guest 14-Feb-2005 09:52
Central Park Bar and Grill is outstanding in its Menu Selection -- Two Thumbs Up!

Best Fish Fry in town on Fridays. They have Great Steaks, Real Steak, and Sandwiches.
They have the Best Buffalo Wings you have ever tasted. They also have Shrimp Dinners and Roast Beef Platters. They also have cold sandwiches, finger foods, pizza stixs, fries, hot poppers, etc. They also have Reubens and his little sister Rebecca, grilled sandwiches, and of course, Buffalo's Famous Beef On Weck's.

And they have the Best Salads in Buffalo -- they have Julienne Salad, Chef Salad, Caesar Salad, macaroni salad, potatoe salad, coleslaw, etc. And they also have BLT's and sausage sandwiches, Italian or Polish.

The place is much to be loved -- it's like a second home. They have music on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday Nights. One of the best treats there is the manager/bartender Frannie -- she is so fun and cordial, and makes you feel right at home. She's da bomb!!! What a darling, she just lights up the place with her humor and style.

They have a jazz/rock fusion band called Gamalon, they play every thursday night. And for you Grateful Dead followers -- they also have a Grateful Dead Band one time per month.

They have great drinks too and the best bartender there, Frannie will make ya anything you want. The most popular is Ice Pick, which is purely vodka and tea, yummm!!!

What a wonderful place! It will always have that special place in my heart. Will definitely be dining there when I'm in town. Kudos to the management and staff!!!

Pasch (Food Critic, Food Connoisseur and Food Fan)