Barre brewpub to be city nightclub
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By David Delcore TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: April 5, 2009
BARRE – The man who submitted a belated bid to convert Barre's old firehouse into a brew pub more than two years ago is now planning to take over, and quite possibly expand, the brew pub that recently closed just up the street.
Joseph Illuzzi is in the process of obtaining the licenses he'll need to convert the now-vacant Stonecutters' Brewhouse into the soon-to-open Park View Bar & Grill and Rock City Nightclub.
Earlier this week city councilors approved an entertainment license for the nightclub operation, as well as a food establishment license for the restaurant. They tabled action on Illuzzi's liquor license request, which is expected to be taken up on Tuesday night.
Repeated attempts to reach Illuzzi have been unsuccessful and the building's owner, Alan Goldman, could not be reached for comment. It is unclear whether work that is now being done on the second floor of Barre's historic Blanchard Block is associated with Illuzzi's plans.
City officials have not processed any building permits and, to date, the work has been limited to removing items that were left over when Lash Furniture closed its doors several years ago.
Illuzzi has asked for city officials to approve his plans to allow the consumption of alcohol on the concrete loading dock located at the rear of the building from 11 a.m. and 2 a.m. That request, coupled with a desire to have Police Chief Timothy Bombardier conduct a standard license review, prompted councilors to postpone action the liquor license application earlier this week.
At least a portion of the establishment planned by Illuzzi will occupy the space vacated by Stonecutters' Brewhouse when that business closed in January after two turbulent years.
Bud Stevens, owner of the brew pub, is actively pursuing a plan to move the brewery portion of Stonecutters' operation to Mill Street in East Barre.
Illuzzi's interest in getting into the bar business in Barre dates back to 2006, when he submitted a $170,000 offer to buy the city's old firehouse on South Main Street for $170,000. Illuzzi's offer, which was submitted after a pre-established deadline, was rejected by the council, which ultimately agreed to sell the firehouse property to Valerie Beaudet for $150,000.
Beaudet has since renovated the old firehouse, which is currently home to her florist shop – Emslie's – as well as a handful of smaller businesses and professional offices.
Illuzzi plans for the firehouse involved converting the century-old structure into a firehouse-themed restaurant and brew pub. However, those plans fizzled when the council rejected his late proposal.
According to the license applications reviewed by the council Tuesday night, Illuzzi has shifted his attention across the road and just up the street from the firehouse. His timing couldn't be better. Since the fire that leveled All Fired Up Tavern on Depot Square last October, two other drinking establishments – Stonecutters and Cuzzin's Nightclub – have gone out of business.
Stonecutters closed its doors in January and Cuzzin's closed the following month to accommodate the expansion plans of Aubuchon Hardware.
Illuzzi will likely cater to the clientele of all three establishments, serving food and alcohol, while hosting everything from band and disc jockeys to stand-up comedians and fiddle contests, according to his newly approved entertainment license.
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