AMHERST, N.S. – After the signing of a five-year lease-to-purchase agreement, Jeff Bembridge is on track to relocate Bambino’s Pizzeria, plus a second restaurant, to Amherst’s train station by November of 2019.
“I’m scared to death and excited at the same time,” said Bembridge. “It’s like when you have your first baby, you’re like, ‘what the hell am I going to do with this thing now.’”
Bembridge says he will open two restaurants at the 111-year-old train station.
“Bambinos will be down there but there will also be another restaurant opening up.”
Bembridge is 54-years-old, and opened Bambino’s 33 years ago.
Besides Bambino’s, Bembridge also owns and operates Duncan’s Pub and Breakfast at Brittney’s, both in Amherst.
The relocation became possible after Bembridge, the Town of Amherst, and Via Rail signed the three-way deal on Jan. 29 whereby Via Rail handed the heritage property over to the town, as well as a portion of Station Street and adjacent parking lots. The town will then rent the property to Bembridge for five years, after which, ownership of the station will be turned over to Bembridge.
“I’ll pay a lease in the first five years, and then, after that, the building will be mine and I’ll start paying tax on it,” said Bembridge. “Right now, that’s not a taxable building. The town collects no tax on it whatsoever.”
As part of the agreement, the town will spend up to $7,000 to install a new furnace, while Bembridge, over the five-year lease, will pay the town a total of $64,980, plus HST, in monthly installments of approximately $1,100 per-month.
The deals close March 1.
“I don’t have the keys yet, but, supposedly, I will get them on March 1. That’s when my anxiety is going to start,” said Bembridge.
Once he has the keys, renovations will begin.
“I’m hoping to be open by November. Maybe sooner,” said Bembridge.
Bembridge and the town have negotiated with Via Rail for ownership of the property for more than three years, and Bembridge is happy to see the building being put to good use.
“I hate to see another building go to waste,” said Bembridge. “It’s a beautiful building. It has lots of character. It’s good for the town and the town is good for it. It’s good for everybody.”
Renovations are allowed inside the building but, as part of the deal, no demolition or substantial alteration to the exterior of the Municipal Heritage Building can take place without the permission of the Town of Amherst.
“This has been a long time coming, but it is finally here and it’s a great day,” said Amherst mayor David Kogon in a press release. “Working together, we have saved a historic building while ensuring that it is viable well into the future.”
Passenger trains still stop at the station and, as part of the deal, the town will rent space for five years to Via Rail so passengers will have a waiting room and access to washrooms.
“Upon completion of the planned renovations, the re-opening of a shared section of the old station will allow us to welcome more customers and enhance their travel experience,” said Yves Desjardins Siciliano, president and chief executive officer of VIA Rail, in a press release.
Bembridge thanks the town for the role they played in brokering the deal.
“I’m happy with the support I’ve had with town council, the mayor and the previous mayor. They’ve worked hard on this deal and I want to thank them all for that,” said Bembridge. “If it wasn’t for the Town this deal wouldn’t have happened.
He also thanks Roger MacIsaac, town of Amherst economic development director before retiring in 2016.
“Roger MacIsaac, he’s the guy who started to get the ball rolling on day-one. He’s the guy who got it all started,” said Bembridge.
