The Sterling Tap and Wurst could be opening on Hertel as soon as this weekend. I spoke to owner Kevin Brinkworth who told me that although there were some unexpected delays, work is now on target and he believes that the end result will please all who visit. Looking around Tap and Wurst, it’s easy to see that Kevin has come from a long line of restaurant and bar owners.
Before I could even start talking about the concept, he started showing me the various breweriana that he had managed to acquire over the years, some of it coming from his family’s past establishments, including the old House of Quinn. Other objects of interest include an extremely rare 1903 piano commissioned for the Pan American Exposition, and a late 1800s back bar that Kevin spotted on the TV series American Pickers.
Aside from all of the cool memorabilia, Kevin has managed to take the former Sterling Tavern and turn it upside down. Gone are the warped floors. The wall that ran down the middle of the establishment has been removed. A small stage for acoustic acts has been built towards the back of the bar, with removable handrails so that the stage can also accommodate a couple of deuces when not hosting musicians. Old bar doors will function as a draught board (16 taps), and antique beadboard wood paneling from a farmhouse porch has been recycled into flooring. The exterior of the building now boasts a series of garage doors that open to the street, creating a refreshing indoor-outdoor atmosphere similar to The Blue Monk, which Kevin happens to co-own.
I asked Kevin how he came to be in possession of this high profile Hertel corner, and he said, “My dad has owned the building for 40 years. When I was little, he would bring me along with him, so I’m very familiar with this location. Sterling Tavern was here for 24 years, but the restaurant needed a lot of work. The kitchen was a nightmare, and I knew that the direction that Hertel was going, this could be great corner. It needed a restaurant that had reliable operating days and hours. I’m embracing the Sterling run, by incorporating the street name into the business. But as you can see, where moving in different directions, including the type of food that we will be serving. In 2009 I was talking to my cousin Skipper Wardynski (Wardynski Meats) about opening some sort of hotdog business, along the lines of Ted’s. PArt of that concept will be rolled into this business… Tap and Wurst will feature our own blends of 15 sausages ranging from pheasant to duck, and wild boar to elk (along with duck fries of course)”
As I spoke to Kevin, I suddenly came to the realization that he was one of the only Brinkworths that I was not overly familiar with, other than I knew that he was a partner at The Blue Monk. To me, living in Buffalo, I found that curious. “I moved back to Buffalo in 2008,” he explained. “I had been working for NASCAR at the time, when my uncle got sick. So I came back to Buffalo, rekindled an old relationship with an ex girlfriend, got married, had a son, and entered the family business. I opened The Blue Monk with Mike Shatzel shortly after that.”
Aside from opening up the interior of the restaurant up (now seating for 50) with a couple of beautiful communal tables made out of a reclaimed bowling alley floor, Tap and Wurst will also have a front patio, and Kevin is working on getting permits for a side patio.
I am aware that a lot of people were big fans of The Sterling Tavern, and the owners had an incredible run in Buffalo. I too was sad to hear that the business was closing. Knowing that the former owners will land on their feet, when the time is right, I believe that the rejuvenation of this corner is a big win for Hertel and North Buffalo. With the direction that the street has been heading, it was only a matter of time before this place got a facelift. Fortunately, it also landed an owner/operator who is dedicated to the building, the business and to Buffalo. All good things shall come to pass… thankfully this transformation has resulted in what will surely become another happening Hertel hot spot.
As I mentioned, Sterling Tap and Wurst could open as soon as this weekend. Stay tuned to Facebook for soft opening news.
Sterling Tap and Wurst | 1487 Hertel Avenue | Buffalo, New York | (716) 833-1307 | Beer and food menu