What is Naked Buffalo?

We are an entertainment company based in Buffalo, New York. Our main focus is tours, along with historical research and publishing. We started with one tour known as The Mob Tours in 2008 and have since added much more to our program.

Our Guides

Michael F.Rizzo – Michael is a trained docent and author of three plus books on Buffalo history. His fascination with local history stemmed from his purchase of a 1893 home on Buffalo’s West side. In 2008 the Mob Tours began his tourism career.
YOU can be here. Email us (nakedbuffalo at gmail dot com) for info on being a Naked Buffalo docent. 

I hear you talk about Italians…

Most of the Italians who migrated to Buffalo were hard-working, law-abiding citizens, but a very small percentage were criminals and lived behind the cloak of secrecy known as the Mafia. Some of our tours explore hangouts, homes and where the F.B.I. struck at the local mob. Whether by bus or foot, you will hear stories and see places that look normal until you know their secrets! By the way, we are Italian too.

When was Naked Buffalo started?
We first thought about it in 200. At that time we formed our original company, Wet Buffalo Land & Water Tours, Inc., with the goal of introducing DUCK tours to Buffalo.

What is a DUCK tour?
Boston, Chicago, Seattle and many other cities offer these unique land and water tours. Unfortunately, Buffalo wasn’t ready for them, so we went on to Plan B, which was bicycle rentals.

Bicycle Rentals
Yes, bicycles! Long before everyone and their brother started biking again to save the environment (and some gas) we started renting bikes, first in downtown Buffalo (again, we were too early, now the Canal really helps) then in Niagara Falls. Alas, the bike rentals was not a smashing success, so we went on to Plan C, which was a bike delivery service.

Bicycle Delivery
We began Zippy Delivery Bicycle Messengers in February 2001 and sold the business in December 2007, nearly 7 full years. We consider it a success but were ready to move on.

When Did the Current Tours Start?
We began working on our tour idea back in 2003, but did not get it off the ground until Summer 2007, with the the first tours being conducted in May 2008. It began as The Mob Tours and was a bus tour of former Mafia sites in Niagara Falls. eventually we expanded until in 2010 we started two walking tours in Buffalo and in 2011 added several more. With the new tours we changed the company name to Naked Buffalo, Inc. and have plans for additional tours in 2012 as we continue to explore the Fun Underbelly of Buffalo History!

Who is behind Naked Buffalo?
Mike Rizzo, author, historian, entrepreneur and researcher and his wife Michelle are the people behind the tours. They have spent hundreds of hours preparing these tours so they are fun, accurate and interesting.

Do you have a physical storefront?
We can be contacted at 716-299-TOUR (8687) or email. We try to start on time, so please be prompt.

Privacy Policy
We take your privacy seriously. We don’t like to receive junk mail, so why should you? Therefore, we’ll never sell your name or address to anyone.

Naked Buffalo reserves the right to change or cancel any tour at any time.