BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Swannie House, located at 170 Ohio St. in Buffalo, is closing after the death of its owner, Timothy Wiles. Timothy's family decided to close the long-standing bar following his death on Oct. 25, his daughter Maria told WIVB News 4. The Irish bar was first established in 1886 and was purchased by Timothy and his wife, Marlene, in 1983. The Swannie House was best known for its vast selection of pub food, including wings and its famous fish fry, which was voted as Buffalo Spree's "Best in WNY" in 2011, according to their Facebook page. Maria said the family's decision to close was "extremely difficult." "If our dad taught us anything, it is the importance of putting your family first. His children have established roots and lives out-of-state, and it would be a disservice to our young babies and families to change their lives as well as our own," she said. "It would especially be a disservice to our dad’s legacy if we did not have the ability to pour our everything into the business he loved. The future is unknown, but we wish to find someone who can do just that as well preserve its long, storied history." The preservation of the bar's legacy is a top priority for Timothy's family, who emphasized how much the business meant to them and the customers. Latest Local News Bar-Bill tavern prepares for large crowds ahead of Bills’ home games Man charged with attempted murder in connection with Buffalo shooting Prosecutors accuse strip club owner of exploiting vulnerable women to engage in commercial sex acts What’s in store for Buffalo’s winter? The 4Warn Weather team offers predictions in our Winter Weather Special Lockport man arrested on child pornography, gun charges Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.