Posted on 02/22/2003 1:23:35 AM PST by Dane
A long history, but few problems
Records show the building that housed The Station had a history as a gathering spot stretching back to at least World War II, but drew few complaints.
02/22/2003
BY SCOTT MAYEROWITZ Journal Staff Writer
WEST WARWICK -- Over the years, the wooden building at 211 Cowesett Ave. has played many roles -- a hangout for World War II sailors, a family restaurant and finally a club that was often filled as various bands performed on its stage.
Most of the one-story building dates back to the l940s, An addition in 1975 brought the structure's total square footage, including the basement, to 6,278.
The interior had low ceilings, wooden paneling and a type of soundproofing foam that Fire Chief Charles D. Hall said yesterday he was unable to identify.
Top town and fire officials yesterday answered very few questions about such areas as the condition of the building, its interior layout, and materials in the building. Other town fire officials told The Providence Journal they were under a department gag order and could not comment.
Michael Jandron, 18, an employee of the club, said there was gray, sound-dampening foam behind the stage.
"It's like a foamy material, but you can push your hand into it," Jandron said, likening it to an egg crate. "It was a dark gray color."
Overall the club, in recent years, appears to have had a trouble-free record, with the exception of the occasional fight and past complaints from residents about noise and parking.
When the current owners applied for a liquor license in February 2000, the police and fire chiefs both raised concerns about the parking and overcrowding in the club.
In a Feb. 18, 2000 letter to the Town Council then-Fire Chief Richard J. Rita wrote that on busy nights, the parking lot is filled to capacity, patrons park on a nearby street and that "it presents a serious problem in maneuvering emergency apparatus into that neighborhood . . ."
"Another issue that is of grave concern to me is an ongoing problem of overcrowding which occurs at this establishment. Occupancy limits are determined and are exceeded on busy nights. Again, this presents a problem should evacuation or emergency medical treatment become necessary."
While the building has existed for more than half a century, live music has been a relatively new addition.
During the war, the nightclub was know as The Wheel and was a hangout for sailors from the naval base at Quonset Point, according to a former West Warwick resident who now works for the Associated Press.
For most of the 1970s and 1980s it was an Italian restaurant known locally as "Papa Brillo's."
In 1985, Glenn Madden who worked at Brillo's for 13 years, bought the restaurant from owner Ray Villanove and renamed it Glenn's Pub "The Place for Prime Rib and Family Fare."
By 1991,it was called Crackerjacks Sports Pub. For a time, the bar had live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
In December 1992 the name was changed to The Filling Station. The menu at the time was filled with items such as burgers, chicken fingers and cheese fries.
In 1995, Howard J. Julian and his company La Villa Strangiato Inc., took over the license but kept the name The Filling Station.
In March 2000, the present owners, Jeffrey A. Derderian, 36, of 153 Hill Top Drive, Cranston, and Michael Derderian, 41, of 42 Tern Rd., Narragansett, and their company Derco LLC took over the club.
They dropped "Filling" from its name making it "The Station."
The land has been owned by Triton Realty Limited Partnership Building since 1986. Derco paid $4,000 a month in rent to Triton, according to its liquor license application.
With staff reports from Andrew C. Helman
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