47 East Mohawk Street has officially changed ownership over to Bernice Radle and Frank Dimaria with the goal of reopening Mohawk Place with a renewed sense of purpose – being a reliable and welcoming space for local and national music acts to play in downtown Buffalo.
The goal is simple: to create a non-profit entity that will ensure that Mohawk Place stays in and for the community for decades to come.
“We put it under contract on the day of the last Mohawk show. We closed on the deal this past Friday. Owner Rick Platt signed the papers for the building. Both Frank and I knew that we needed to do something – we’re both musicians who have played there over the years. Frank – drummer with HUNS – played Mohawk’s final show. Frank got engaged at Mohawk and had his wedding rehearsal there. We make a good team, and neither one of us would have done it without the other.”
– Bernice Radle
Mohawk Place has been a cornerstone of Buffalo’s music scene for nearly 35 years, a sanctuary for musicians and fans alike. It’s where raw talent and passion collide, giving local bands a stage to cut their teeth and national acts a gritty, intimate venue to connect with a city that thrives on authenticity. It’s more than just a venue—it’s a community, a proving ground, and a home for the relentless spirit that defines Buffalo.
From its earliest days as a haven for the blues, roots, and rockabilly acts that original owner Pete Perrone loved, whether you played for 15 people or a packed house, the energy was the same: real, unfiltered, and full of heart. It’s a place where punk, metal, and indie kids found belonging, where music was more than just sound—it was survival, expression, and hope. It was a place where young singer-songwriters found a stage and where out-of-the-mainstream acts found their niche.
Keeping that tradition alive means preserving a space where the next generation can experience that same feeling of legitimacy, of being seen, of knowing they belong. The spirit of Mohawk Place isn’t just in its walls—it’s in everyone who’s ever stepped onto that stage, stood in that crowd, and felt, even for a moment, completely at home.
In the next month, a non-profit will be formed and will launch a fundraiser to raise critical funds to save the Mohawk. Necessary updates are needed to the bar and space – including investing in the sound equipment, repairing or replacing mechanicals, overhauling areas of the bar, and more. For more updates, click here.
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