The demolition of Mulligan’s Brick Bar in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood was brought to a standstill by mechanical issues just a few hours after work began.

Brick Bar is the second bar that has been destroyed by fire in the Allentown neighborhood in less than a year. Its next-door neighbor, The Old Pink was destroyed by a fire on June 17, 2024. The Buffalo man accused of setting fire to that building, John Burns of Buffalo, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on arson and attempted arson charges.

After a brief pause to further discuss emergency stabilization options for Mulligan’s Brick Bar in the Allentown neighborhood, plans to demolish what’s left of the fire-ravaged 1897 building will move forward Wednesday morning.

Mulligans neighbor, legendary dive bar, The Old Pink, was set ablaze and was burned beyond repair. John W. Burns was charged with arson in that case. Burns remains in a residential treatment facility while he awaits trial in federal court.

As it is still to be determined what happens with the future of Mulligan’s Brick Bar in Buffalo’s Allentown community, efforts are underway to try and preserve parts of the building, and potential artifacts for safe keeping.

Mulligan’s Brick Bar on Allen Street is set to be demolished Wednesday morning after a large fire broke out early Sunday morning, causing an estimated total of $2.1 million in damage, city officials said.

Mulligan’s Brick Bar demolition to resume Thursday following fire