Former Niagara Falls businessman remembered

Former Niagara Falls resident Henry Muller is being remembered as a tenacious businessman who embodied the entrepreneurial spirit.

Muller died Tuesday in Hamilton at the age of 86.

Born in Czechoslovakia, Muller was the founder of Muller’s Meats and various other enterprises including the Niagara Industrial Mall.

“He was one of the more successful entrepreneurs who came out of Niagara Falls,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, who was once a tenant at the Thorold Stone Road industrial mall when he ran a bakery distribution business.

“He was unrelenting. He never gave up. He was persistent and creative.”

His Portage Road property that once housed Muller’s Meats is now home to the new Niagara Regional Police headquarters.

“He put his property in play and made the right offer that was obviously attractive to the police services board and was able to bring the headquarters to Niagara Fall,” Diodati said.

Bruce Ward and Bruce Peters were involved in a number of business ventures with Muller.

“We’ve been partners with Henry for 32 years,” Ward said. “We had a great relationship. Henry was a pretty shrewd business person.

“We really appreciated being partners with him.”

Muller also founded the Cavalier Hotel and the former Houdini Magical Hall of Fame.

Muller is survived by his wife Bella, four children, 11 grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.

A funeral was held Thursday at the Adas Israel Synagogue in Hamilton followed by interment at Lundy’s Lane Cemetery in Niagara Falls.