(Gregory Witul, AM-POL Eagle • Tue, Sep 10, 2013) When we reminisce about the great eateries and taverns, we naturally recall all the restaurants that were around for so many years. The Polish Village operated on Broadway in Buffalo for over 30 years, Our Inn in North Tonawanda lasted over 25 years, and Happy Swallow and R & L are still serving the East Side.
These places are the exception to the restaurant industry’s standard survival rate. When a new restaurant opens its doors, it has a 27 percent chance of closing in the first year; after the third year, 50 percent of those restaurants are no longer in business; and in 10 years 70 percent of restaurants fail. This week, we’ll be taking a look at a keychain flashlight from one of the places that never saw its fourth birthday, Helen’s Lounge at 399 Peckham St. in the city of Buffalo.
