East Avenue Tavern
East Avenue Tavern - 881 Oliver Street - Established in 1944
Established in 1944 by the Wudykas, it was in existence for many years before the Wudykas owned it. The present owner is Leonard Wudyka, a former Alderman in North Tonawanda , who has owned it since September 1976. His father, John Wudyka, and uncle, Martin Wudyka began business in 1944, purchasing it from Frank Rotko. It is believed to be the oldest existing tavern still in operation in North Tonawanda . Note: The Guiness Book of Records once listed Oliver Street as having the most taverns in the world.
EAST AVENUE TAVERN
BY TERRY SHAW AND TIM SCHMITT
TONAWANDA NEWS
Twin Forks Edition
March 23, 2004
TERRY:
Bars on Oliver Street are a North Tonawanda tradition — and you can't get any more traditional than the East Avenue Tavern, located where East Avenue crosses that legendary Street.
It's been in the Wudyka family since 1944, when two brothers, John and Marty (who were married to two sisters), bought the place. But the Wudyka boys couldn't get their hands on any beer to sell till 1945 because of World War II shortages.
TIM:
Talk about old school charm. I've passed the East Avenue Tavern hundreds of times without ever stopping. I had no idea what I was in for. Imagine your own living room with a bar in it — soft lighting and a host of homey touches — certainly nothing that screams corporate.
A quirky back room where patrons can get away and enjoy a quiet dinner away from the ruckus of the bar just adds to the charm.
TERRY:
Owner Lenny Wudyka said most customers are regulars.
“And lot of them are the sons of guys who used to be regulars,” he said. Lenny, who's 70, remembers when Oliver Street had 54 bars.
“When Durez was going, guys would come in at 8 o'clock after the third shift was out and they couldn't find a seat,” he said.
“Some of those old-timers, they must be 75 or 80, stop in once in awhile.”
TIM:
It was lot quieter last week. Lenny, a former North Tonawanda councilman, was working on some paperwork at a table and pushed his glasses down enough to peek up at us when we explained what we were doing.
TERRY:
He said the place is mostly known for its homemade soups. In the winter, chicken noodle, beef barley and cream of potato are big sellers. I had the split pea, and it was worth the trip in itself.
TIM:
I'm sure the split pea was good, but the cream of potato was absolutely delicious.
TERRY:
It was just before St. Patrick's Day, so I went with the corned beef, boiled potatoes, carrots and cabbage dinner, with the soup, for $7. It made me feel like I was back in my Irish grandmother's kitchen.
TIM:
As sad as this is —and my very Irish grandmother would probably roll over in her grave if she knew — I'd never had a Reuben. Since we were in on a special night, the only things on the menu were a corned beef or ham dinner and the Reuben ($5). I went with the latter, a move that might have forever changed my eating pattern.
It had piled high corned beef on pumpernickel bread with Thousand Island dressing and sauerkraut. Oh, don't forget the Swiss cheese.
And after we gorged on Irish grub, Terry and I each had a piece of baklava ($2.25). It was great, but later we got the real skinny — it wasn't homemade.
With the authenticity of the Reuben, we were willing to let that slide.
TERRY:
Lenny is always switching his menu around. While we were talking to him, he pulled out three different ones. Mainstays include a quarter pound burger for $1.75 and a BLT for $3. Draft beer is a buck. We didn't have any this trip, but the Polish food is awesome. What else would you expect from a guy who went to grade school at Our Lady of Czestochowa?
Besides, the Wudyka clan has been at this for awhile. Lenny and his wife, Janet, took over the bar in 1976. All four of their kids — Jennie, Gary, MaryBeth and Robin —have all worked at the East Avenue Tavern. And at one time or another, they've all lived above it.
Not only is this place a family tradition, it's a North Tonawanda icon. If you stop in, you won't be disappointed.