Joe's
Sanborn Map of the intersection of William and Spring in Buffalo, NY. 1925- Feb. 1951, vol.2 1926-Apr. 1950 sheet 205.
Newspaper article describing the fatal accident of Joseph Balser's family in 1939. Joseph Balser was the owner of the establishment at this time.
A Buffalo Evening News article describing the lawsuit of Balser v. Edward Travers over a burglary that occured at the the resturant, published July 7th of 1936.
Known Name(s)
Joe's
Address
416 William St. Buffalo, NY
Establishment Type(s)
Tavern
Physical Status
Extant
Description
Joe's was located in a two-story building with a composition roof, located on the northwest corner of William St. and Spring. The height from the ground to the roof level was 23 feet. The extant building includes on the first-floor level an off-center entrance with windows to either side and three windows on the second floor of the facade. Much of the building is clad in vinyl siding. Brick veneer is used on the first-floor street frontage, and a small asphalt shingled awning runs the width of the building between the two floors. While the building now stands alone, it was once part of a fuller streetscape. There was a narrow passageway between this building and 414 William, another two-story structure with a composite roof. Wrapping around the two was a one-story sheet steel storage facility with a concrete floor and wooden post and beam construction. Across Spring was a furniture store as well as other stores lining William St.
Detailed History
Joseph Balser owned Joe's Tavern, also known as Balser. According to a 1939 Buffalo Courier Express article, Joseph's wife and one of his daughters died in a car crash while on a family vacation. Joe's was the only restaurant on the block with the fire station and the Crosby Company. The building is one of a few Green Book site still standing in Buffalo. Currently it is still a bar known as the Four One Six .Likely the same as Balser's (https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/balser/ )
