Larkin & Company was the leading manufacturer of soap at the beginning of the 20th century. The companies administration building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright who also designed two homes owned by the companies owner. Today just a small part of that building remains today, but the beautifully restored & stunning Larking & Company Warehouse building has become the centerpiece of a bustling rejuvenated former industrial area.
Several businesses have sprung up within walking distance of the Larkin Building. The Popular Food Truck Tuesdays and other events attract thousands of visitors. On this early spring Saturday we visited 4 businesses in ‘Larkinville.’
500 Seneca is another early 20th century building that has been beautifully redone and houses several businesses and apartments. Originally home to F.N. Burt Company, once the worlds largest paper box manufacturer, it was later a manufacturing facility for New Era Cap Company. Today we are visiting Big Norwegian Kombucha. A passageway on the southeast of the building leads to a small courtyard and the entrance to Big Norwegian, one of only a few Kombucha makers in Buffalo. We met the owner and tried samples of all the flavors on tap for the day. We purchased a bottle fresh from a tap and also a four pack of cans.
We enjoyed the Kombucha and especially enjoyed talking with the owner who told us the story of the business from original concept to it’s present state. The business is making great use of the old manufacturing location and the courtyard entrance adds a lot of charm.
Heading south on Swan Street we headed for Magic Bear Beer Cellar, not a cellar at all, but a very nice place to buy a wide selection of beers or to sit down at the bar or at a table for a beer and a snack. The selection of beers on tap was impressive, and, as usual, we chose a stout, the Dragon’s Milk from New Holland Brewery. We also ordered a meat and cheese charcuterie board and some chips with a delicious homemade onion dip. The beer and food were great as was the service. We learned that the bartender was a former neighbor. Magic Bear is a very clean, bright location and a place we’d highly recommend to anyone interested in a nice setting for beer.
One of Western New York’s best breweries, Flying Bison, is about a block away from Magic Bear. Besides their great selection of beer, Flying Bison is known for its work with local animal rescue. We stopped in and I ordered a Mint Julep draft, a beer that actually tasted a bit like a mint julep, and a good summer time selection.
Our last stop in Larkinville on this day was at the immensely popular, always busy, Swan Street Diner. Expect a bit of wait to get seated here, but it’s definitely worth the wait. The menu is extensive, portions are generous, and everything is well prepared. We skipped the mini multi-flavored fry cakes on this visit, but rather ordered an early afternoon breakfast burrito, the perfect ending to our day.
New businesses continue to spring up in and around Larkinville. The restoration of beautiful old manufacturing buildings has become a successful draw.
