Move to location across from the downtown casino coincided with several violent incidents that cost the club its liquor license and prompted the city to shutter the business. The club’s owners maintain they’re not to blame and are seeking an investigation.
The entrance to the former Club Marcella. Photo by Grant Ashley.
When Buffalo police shut down Club Marcella in December 2023, club owners Joe Guagliardo and Michael Slyder seemed to have a lot of questions to answer.
One person died and three others were injured in two shootings inside the club that year, and another three were injured in shootings just outside the club. In the 18 months the club was open at its new location on Michigan Avenue, Buffalo police responded to 32 assaults, 10 fights and four other reports of shots fired. The State Liquor Authority charged the club with negligence and disorder…