Has The CPO Club Met Its Match?
Up until now, the CPO Club has remained one of the only waterfront establishments where people can either catch a fish fry on Friday nights or organize a public meeting or party. This is where BoomDays started. It’s also where many of the casual sailors head after their Wednesday evening races. This is the place where a $25 membership can buy you a $2 beer at the bar. And if you can don’t have a membership… well... you’re out of luck because the beers climb to a hefty $3. Plus, the CPO is widely considered to be one of the best places to grab a fish fry. How many spots on the water can the general public sit down with a beer and watch the sun set over the lake? Hardly any is the answer. So why is this place supposedly in jeopardy of being lost?
This is an establishment that most cities would kill for. Even if the CPO Club, which stands for Chief Petty Officer’s Club, can’t (for some reason) continue to operate the business, then there would be plenty of other restaurant owners waiting in the wings. Can you imagine what this place could be like if give the chance? Can you imagine what it would be like if it were flattened into a parking lot?
The CPO Club can't advertise due to its military affiliation. Its members and guests support Buffalo's waterfront and the United States military. That’s why it’s kind of a hidden secret here in Buffalo. Let’s also hope that that’s not the ultimate cause of an unfortunate fate. The CPO club is currently found at the end of Porter Avenue where LaSalle Park is found. It borders the Buffalo Yacht Club.
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2l2q
the other reason 'why' may just be that it has become an eyesore and firetrap. pity nobody seemed to care enough to balance a $2 beer with the need to have enough $$ to continue to provide the beer.
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kahawa
Who owns the land and the building?
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BuffaloRox
QE,
Is the CPO open for lunch and dinner other than for Friday fish fry?
BR
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Geomike
if the locale is in a bit of trouble staying open, one might suggest putting out the word to all reserve stations around town, to let the younger folks serving now know about this place and that it could use a hand. If it has a military affiliation I'd assume many current active, reserve & recent active military would love to help out & see this place stay afloat. For the rest of us, add this palce to the list of cheap, good food places around town to hit up. It's one of what 2 non-snooty places on the water in the city (if you don't count the Hatch)?
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MiesvanderDoh
the website said you had to be some sort of member of the military; does this still hold true
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RaChaCha
The CPO club rocks! I've been there on a couple of occasions, including the waterfront celebration that was part of the first Buffalo Old Home Week. I got to meet both Kevin Gaughan and Brian Higgins there. Even this out-of-towner knows that what Newell says about the club and its place in the culture of Buffalo and the waterfront are spot on. Preservation of the club - certainly the building, but also its community function and zeitgeist - should be a natural cause célèbre for all who care about Buffalo's history, culture, and waterfront.
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ketchum_gnome
212q--I heard/have seen the same thing. Apparently the CPO club, which I love, has too many building code violations. Maybe someone can buy it?
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2l2q
yep - I heard something to the effect that it had been condemned.
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jp66
Code violations, yes many. Condemned, not hardly.
By the looks of the pictures, I wouldnt call it an eyesore. A little TLC would go a long way here.
The building belongs to the state and is leased to the CPO Club. As far as buying the building, I think thats nearly impossible. Reason - the land that it resides on and the waterfront surrounding the club is state owned and leased to the US Navy. I doubt the Navy will just let anyone in, due to security issues our nation faces.
Anybody that's been in the club will tell you it's not a 5 star establishment. The atmosphere and location however is 6 plus stars. The people are always friendly and welcoming.
The club has about six weeks to save itself, and if it dosn't? The state will be kicking the veterans organization to the curb and dozing the building, by fall it will be a parking lot for the Naval Operational Support Center. The Navy has no say in what decisions are made. The Navy and Marine Corps staff/reserves will truly miss the club.
The club is fighting, and has adequate resorces to resolve the code violations. Battling the state though is an uphill battle. Contact you local politicians, congressmen/women, state senetors and any infuential powers that could help save the CPO Club.
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JohnB
What's the latest news on the status of the CPO Club? Didn't it recently get some sort of eligibility for historic status? Will it be open throughout the Summer?
-jb
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