By Emilie Hagen
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
After nearly 30 years of operation, the owner of a Niagara Falls corner bar frequented by downtown workers and tourists alike, is passing along his business to a new owner.
Steve Masic, a graduate of Niagara Falls High School who has been involved with Players Lounge at Fourth and Niagara streets since he began working for his parents in the early 1980s and eventually took over, sold the business six months ago and celebrated his departure with a party last Friday. He plans to switch directions and open a Subway franchise in a building he owns next door at 326 Niagara St. He hopes to have the sandwich franchise operational by next year.
Masic said he has enjoyed his 30-year stint at the Players Lounge, as its location at 328 Niagara St. in the downtown area has attracted an interesting flow of people over the years, including locals, foreigners, casino and area hotel employees and, at one time, rock-and-roll star Rod Stewart, who used Players Lounge as a hiding spot to escape fanatic Buffalo concert fans one year.
“This area's pretty unique,” said Masic. “I met a lot of people from around the world.”
New owner, Mark O’Farrell, owner of O’Farrell Motors, 2017 Pine Ave., purchased the business with a partner, Michael Alaimo, a student at Niagara University. The pair plan on taking over where Masic left off, with only a few special changes such as adding more food items to the menu, including a specialty of chicken legs cooked like chicken wings.
“We're hoping to have a lot of specials like ‘Casino Night’ and hotel workers night,” O’Farrell said, noting plans are to continue to draw employees from the area. The pair also hopes to hold special events for nonprofits with celebrity bartenders.
“It’s a real nice, clean, comfortable, safe place to go,” O’Farrell said. “We basically just want to expand what Steve’s done over the years.”
Next door to the bar, Masic plans on investing about $300,000 to revamp that building, which will also house two renovated loft apartments in addition to the Subway.
“There is potential here,” said Masic. “I wouldn’t be investing if I didn’t see the potential.”
