07/09/2021
former Niagara Gazette Staff Writer Jerauld Brydges wrote some interesting comments on the Dueger family business on Feb. 18, 1973.
Brydges, as he was commonly known, visited Bill Dueger at Dueger’s Grill, a very popular tavern at 313 Niagara St. across from the Niagara Gazette building for many years.
Bill was looking back as he looked out the window at the “spanking new Carborundum Center which towers like a giant over the tiny flatiron building saloon.” The Carborundum Center was at the corner of Third and Niagara streets and one of the few “new builds” to come from the Urban Renewal of downtown Niagara Falls. I actually worked there in 1972 with the Taggart-Mayne Insurance Agency, one of the first tenants. We were on the fourth floor overlooking the Convention Center parking lot and Fourth Street entry. Today it is occupied by the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. The other “new build,” directly across from the convention center was the Hilton Hotel and the two are linked with an underground tunnel. The Hilton has changed owners, operators and names several times over the years and is now known as the American Niagara Hospitality, operating as The Sheraton at Niagara Falls Hotel.
But this is about the Dueger family or “Dueger dynasty” as Bill Dueger called it that day when his mind wandered back to his parents who shaped his life. Bill and his two brothers, Arthur and Walter, were the sons of the late William Dueger Sr. who was born in North Tonawanda and worked for the International Railway for 50 years as a streetcar supervisor. These three “all played a role in the direction of the building – each working for the others at one time and then taking over for a time individually,” wrote Jerry Brydges.
Arthur first took over the bar and restaurant back in 1940. They served a lot of Canadians especially on Sundays when no alcohol was served “over there,” Bill said. The “old” Dueger’s housed a dumb waiter that shuffled drinks from the bar to the restaurant on the second floor. The restaurant was decked in plush carpeting and the ambience was fit for either intimate dining or what some might term “a real blast.” Apparently it was a very popular place when the upstairs was used. They catered dinner parties and provided music with a live band. Arthur and his wife, Frances lived at 1613 Niagara Ave. Brother Walter took over later and eventually opened his own place at 8806 Buffalo Ave.
Bill was quoted: “Those were the days of the 10-cent beer and 25-cent cocktail; the $2 meal and the sounds of swing music; the worries of World War II and the clang of streetcars.” Jerry was visiting the famous establishment which had been many things ... a betting parlor, a speakeasy; a barber shop and a cigar store.”
Jerry wrote: “He met his wife, a slender, gracious woman named Helen Zemla. Mrs. Dueger was the cook for Bill’s brother and to this day (my words: February 1983) she still caters to “special” parties given by her oldest son, Jerry, proprietor of Dueger’s 1001 Grill on Niagara Street.”
They eventually gave up the two-story restaurant-bar and Dueger’s was basically a tavern. But they were still known throughout Niagara County and the Canadian Niagara Peninsula for its hamburger, described as “a pan-broiled delicacy dredged with “the works.” Customers came faithfully for the best hamburger in town.” Jerry wrote of one customer “who has faithfully partaken of the “specialty “ for nearly three decades, estimates he has eaten, give or take a few, 7,500 of Dueger’s best.”
All the offspring learned the business from their father and uncles and it was a natural they would eventually take over. At the time of the article, it was Ronald, who Jerry Brydges described as “ a husky, 23-year-old decorated Vietnam War veteran who acts as bartender, cook, maitre d’hôtel and interior decorator.” His predecessor was Jerry, who later opened at 10th and Niagara streets and apparently was the opposite as he was lanky and soft-spoken. The other boys are Dennis, who along with his wife Elizabeth works with Jerry, and Billy, who was an employee of the Superior Vending Company with a background in bowling alley management. The only daughter of the clan, Elaine was a manager of a restaurant in Erie County. Stay tuned.
It’s hard to find information on the history of some smaller businesses but I lucked out on Dueger’s as former Niagara Gazette Staff Writer Jerauld Brydges wrote some interesting comments
