Larkin Square - Table of Contents  .................  Public Art - Table of Contents

Larkin Filling Station Restaurant
Larkin Square, 745 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY
Larkin Development Group - Official Web Page  (July 2012)
The Filling Station - Official Web Page (July 2012)
Larkin Square Entertainment (online April 2014)

On this page, below:

Restaurant

Mural

Square 1

The Filling Station/ Larkin Filling Station #6

This former Larkin Filling Station # 6 was originally built in 1930 and was part of the first ever chain of service stations that stretched across Western New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois. Filling Station #6 was placed near the railroad to lower operating costs as much as possible, and successfully served this bustling neighborhood for many decades.

The station was sold to Gulf Oil in 1941 and the appearance was ultimately ‘modernized’ with white, blue and orange metal panels, this was the hallmark of their aesthetic.

The Filling Station was purchased in 2009 by Larkin Development Group who quickly removed the metal panels, thus revealing the original brick and concrete structure. The capitals of the concrete columns display an ‘icicle’ motif, and have been fully restored on the building’s exterior. All the original interior walls were removed and the building has been retrofitted to accommodate a state-of-the-art restaurant.

 - The Filling Station - History (online July 2012)


Photos taken July 2012

The Filling Station was operated by Gulf Oil until the 1990s when it closed and remained vacant until Larkin Development Group renovated the property in 2012 to house a full service, contemporary restaurant.



Left background: Larkin @ Exchange Building
Right background: Larkin U Building
Far left: Larkin Square Boardwalk
Far right: The Filling Station (Larkin Filling Station #6)



2012 photo.
Left background:
Larkin @ Exchange Building
Right background: Larkin U Building
Far left: Larkin Square Boardwalk
Far right: The Filling Station (Larkin Filling Station #6)



2012 photo.



2012 photo ...  Former gas station bays



2012 photo.
 The Filling Station was purchased in 2009 by Larkin Development Group who quickly removed the metal panels, thus revealing the original brick and concrete structure. The capitals of the concrete columns display an ‘icicle’ motif, and have been fully restored on the building’s exterior.



2012 photo ... Art Deco ‘icicle’ motif



2012 photo ...  Filling Station restaurant entrance



2012 photo ...  Filling Station restaurant entrance


"Larkin Then & Now"
Section 1 of a 3-Section Mural
By Christopher Kameck and Max Collins
Photos taken June 2014


2014 photo ... Four details below:



2014 photo ... #1 of four details



2014 photo ... #2 of four details



2014 photo ... #3 of four details.
Background print detail below:



2014 photo ... #4 of four details.


"Larkin Then & Now"
Section 2 of a 3-Section Mural
By Christopher Kameck and Max Collins
Photos taken June 2014



2014 photo ... Seven details below, from the left:




2014 photo ... #1 of seven details



2014 photo ... #2 of seven details



2014 photo ... ##3, 4 of seven details



2014 photo ... #5 of seven details



2014 photo ... #6 of seven details



2014 photo ... #7 of seven details


"Larkin Then & Now"
Section 3 of a 3-Section Mural
By Christopher Kameck and Max Collins
Photos taken June 2014


2014 photo ...  Mural behind (south) the Filling Station Restaurant ... Images from a Larkin Co. catalog.
Four details below:



2014 photo ...  #1 of four details



2014 photo ...  #2 of four details



2014 photo ...  #3 of four details



2014 photo ...  #4 of four details


Square 1 Sandwiches

Built in a beautiful old Airstream Trade Wind Land Yacht, the eatery looks as bold and bright as the elevated food court that seconds as a back drop and band stand.

The mostly-stationary food truck (trailer) is also located next to the newly opened Filling Station restaurant with a sixteen seat patio for patrons to share. Either that or sit at one of the many colorful lawn seats, some of which are now shaded with gigantic patio umbrellas.



2012 photo ...  Larkin District buildings:
Left background: Building U
Center: Larkin @Exchange
Right: Larkin Center of Commerce. 701 Seneca Street



2012 photo.



2012 photo.
 Photo taken from the elevated food court located behind the Square 1 Sandwiches food truck.
Across the street, left: Former Swan Lounge, 716 Seneca St. (undergoing renovation by Larkin Development Group; see Buffalo Rising article)



2012 photo.
 Elevated food court and Square 1 Sandwiches food truck, a converted Airstream Trade Wind Land Yacht



2012 photo ...  Elevated food court and Square 1 Sandwiches food truck



2012 photo.



2012 photo ...  Patio in front of The Filling Station restaurant



2012 photo.



2012 photo.



2012 photo.



2012 photo.
Left background: Former Swan Lounge (undergoing renovation by Larkin Development Group; see Buffalo Rising article)



2012 photo ... Seneca Street Larkin Square enclosed flower garden



Photos and their arrangement © 2012, 2014 Chuck LaChiusa
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