BUFFALO, N.Y. — There was a celebration of what was on Friday night.

“Whether you were starting your night, in the middle of your night or finishing your night, it was all just a hodgepodge of people that would come in here,” said Chris Gasz, a customer at The Old Pink.

A remembrance event was held for The Old Pink on Friday.

“At times it's overwhelmingly sad and at times I just feel the positive energy that we've gotten from the community,” added Eric Van Rysdam, a DJ at The Old Pink since 1992.

A smattering of pink flamingos stood in the footprint of the beloved bar.

On Thursday, authorities confirmed the June fire at the site was arson.

“You know, accidents happen. We all understand that," said Gasz. "But when it was purposely done, that makes me a little more upset.”

Buffalo Fire investigators say there is a person of interest.

Attendees at the Friday event hope justice will be served.

“I would say don't release the name of the person who did it, because their name would be mud for the rest of their lives,” said Patty MacDonald, the president of the Allentown Association.

There’s no replacing this institution.

“Everybody's glory days were spent at The Pink and people hold on to the last vestiges of their youth," MacDonald said. "They want to remember The Pink, so I don't think it'll go away for a long time."

Customers, though, aren’t dwelling on the past.

“Not that it was a good thing that it burned down, but I think it brought a lot of people together again,” said Gasz.

The spirit of The Pink won’t be destroyed.

“Somebody drove by in a car and said The Old Pink...can't stop, won't stop," added Van Rysdam. "So that was the whole rest of the day, we just kept saying, 'can't stop.' It's a state of mind."

Proceeds from the event will go to employees of The Old Pink who lost their jobs because of the fire.