By JAMES FINK
Business First

A sewer-repair project on Washington Street was cited as the reason for the closure of a downtown Buffalo dining and music landmark.

The Lafayette Tap Room unexpectedly closed last weekend, with its owner citing a dramatic drop in customer traffic because of the Washington Street infrastructure work.

Marc Alfieri, who took over the Tap Room in 2007, said the ongoing work on Washington Street, coupled with a large portion of the block between Eagle and S. Division streets being closed last year for emergency road repairs, created a deep financial hole for the nightclub and restaurant.

City of Buffalo officials did not return a phone call seeking comment on the Tap Room's closing.

Alfieri estimated that his business dropped as much as 50 percent because of the sewer-repair work. The closing put about two dozen people out of work.

"I lost half the Sabres season, and if it keeps up, I could (have lost) the playoffs too," Alfieri said. "The city closed the street and I lost my business."

Besides Sabres games and events at HSBC Arena, the Tap Room saw significant spinoff business from downtown special events.

"If there's a game or event, we're packed," Alfieri said. "Otherwise, we are an island."

The Washington Street work diverted traffic away from the nightclub. During the daytime, construction vehicles often have blocked the front entrance for trucks delivering food and beverages to the Tap Room.

"Collectively, all of these things became the straw that broke the camel's back," Alfieri said.

While Alfieri was still handling bookings, he said his lawyers and CPAs advised him last week that the Tap Room's days were numbered.

"I was distraught," he said. "I put my heart and soul into the Tap Room."

Alfieri said he may consider reopening the Tap Room in a suburban location.

The Tap Room's closing comes as developer Rocco Termini is attempting to buy the adjacent Hotel Lafayette and begin a $35 million face lift of the historic property.

The building's owner, Aphonse Corp., issued eviction notices, effective April 1, to the building's 40 residents. Termini said Tuesday he may abandon those plans unless state officials make changes to a new tax-credit provision for historic properties.

Proposed legislation would allow banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions to buy the historic tax credits. Also at issue is a mandate that if the state tax credits are purchased, the buyer must also buy similar federal historic tax credits.

If those two changes can be made, developers could use the state historic tax credits to save as much as 15 percent on their project costs.

Before running the Tap Room, Alfieri operated the Crocodile bar on Chippewa Street and the Stuffed Mushroom in Buffalo's Central Park neighborhood.