The Oct. 24 re-opening of the venerable and iconic Mohawk Place has an impact potential in downtown Buffalo that goes beyond having a revived live music venue.
To be sure, the Mohawk has a legacy and brand name that runs deep in the annals and history of Buffalo's live music scene.
When it closed in January, many felt it was like losing a best friend and that included new owners Frank DiMaria Jr. and Bernice Radle, both of whom had played on the Mohawk's stage in years past.
"(Live) music was a huge escape for me," DiMaria said. "I grew up in the Mohawk Place."
After DiMaria and Radle bought the Mohawk Place this past winter, they immediately spent several months and well into the six figures to clean up the venue.
The revamped Mohawk still has its dive bar charm and vibe.
"At its heart, the Mohawk is a pretty resilient and pretty cool, if not unpretentious dive bar," DiMaria said.
Live music will continue with a focus on local and national touring acts. Live music won't just be limited to weekends, DiMaria said. Its business model is based on a fairly active schedule of live music.
But, there's more.
DiMaria and Radle want to turn the upper floors of the century-old building's into studio and performance space for musicians - including young students to professionals.
"It's part of the Mohawk being an arts and cultural hub," DiMaria said.
All that aside, the Mohawk will be central player in developer Rocco Termini's Ellicott Street destination/hub plan.
Termini, whose holdings include Tappo restaurant on Ellicott Street, wants to convert a three-block swath of Ellicott Street - between Genesee Street to the north and Broadway to the south - into a downtown destination anchored by special events, live music, new bars and restaurants.
Termini also sees his Ellicott Street vision serving as a spike for converting older buildings - many of which are vacant or under-utilized - into apartments and condos.
"It is all about creating critical mass," Termini said.
Live music at the Mohawk could be one of the key development sparks Termini needs to see his vision become a reality.
DiMaria is all in on the Ellicott Street plan.
"It can help our community," he said.