Thanks in part to an Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant that covered a tiny portion of the restoration costs, Albany chef Matt Bennett intends to relocate his well-liked Sybaris Bistro into a historic electric train station in the city’s downtown next year.
The majority of the 112-year-old railroad building’s original craftsmanship is still present despite decades of use as a pizza and Oregon Lottery video poker venue.
Bennett stated it was fortunate for everyone that no one had permanently altered or updated the rail station. After removing several coats of paint, old-growth timber, ceramic tiles, and ornamental ceilings were found.
Bennett and his wife, Janel, have successfully managed their restaurant through good times, hard times, and pandemics while renting another downtown property for 23 years. Bennett has been recognized twice by the James Beard Foundation as the best chef in the Northwest.
The pair now has a greater interest in the history of the city thanks to funding from Albany businessman and philanthropist Buzz Wheeleras and a $200,000 state redevelopment grant.
On July 4, 1912, the Oregon Electric Railway station in Albany opened to the public. The Bennetts intend to reopen the renovated and enlarged structure on July 4, 2025.
The train station, located at 133 S.E. Fifth Ave., was a stop along the 122-mile Willamette Valley route of the Oregon Electric Railway.
Electric trains started running between Portland and Salem on New Year’s Day, 1908. According to the Oregon Historical Society, lines catering to commuters, students, and shoppers arrived in Forest Grove in 1908, Woodburn in 1909, and Albany and Eugene in 1912.
In 1913, a last branch line was operating between Albany and Corvallis.
Historians claim that once ridership peaked in 1920, competition from cars, trucks, and buses led to the termination of electric train passenger service in 1933.
After relocating to Oregon from Michigan in 1994, Matt Bennett had only ever seen the railroad building on a prominent half-acre corner lot as Ciddici’s Pizza. He now views it as a priceless piece of history.
When Albany was a thriving lumber town vying with Portland for supremacy in the state, this station—dubbed the jewel of the line—was constructed as a civic statement, according to Bennett.
Unique materials draw attention to the building’s excellence. During construction, wire-cut bricks were sent to Albany in place of bricks manufactured there. Bennett claimed that the mason went crazy with enthusiasm upon seeing the bricks.
Since the Sybaris Bistro group, under Wheeler’s Monteith Square LLC, purchased the site for $900,000 in May 2022, the cost of labor, building materials, and loan interest has increased, making the restoration of the railroad building a costly undertaking.
Only a small portion of the rising cost of renovations is covered by the state’s revitalization grant, which is given to building enhancement projects that boost downtown companies’ revenue from tourists. However, Bennett stated that without the money, we would not have been able to begin this research.
Bennett made an unsuccessful application for a $545,000 forgiving loan through an abandoned Albany revitalization program in April 2024. Bennett admitted to missing the train on that program to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.
Bennett and his wife are still dedicated to the project, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive in December. “Well, you just write a big fat check and improvements happen,” he replied, laughing.
Bennett and Lori Stephens of Broadleaf Architecture decided early on to proceed cautiously with the final designs in order to preserve the original features that were not yet apparent to them and make the most efficient use of the available space without making expensive mistakes.
“To see what the rooms wanted to be, they waited until the pizza parlor decor and other cosmetic modifications were removed,” he added.
Bennett engaged Matt Pyburn of Pyburn & Sons, a family-run construction and remodeling business that has three generations of experience repairing Albany’s historic structures.
As they stood in the center of the station one day, Bennett, Matt Pyburn, and Pyburn’s uncle Peter Pyburn gazed at a black-and-white photograph of the original interior. Pete Pyburn turned abruptly to the ceiling.
Recalling Bennett, he snatched up a ladder, went up, took out a penknife, and began scratching the ceiling. “It’s all here,” Pete remarked, using an expletive.
Beneath the beige paint was the ornamental coffered ceiling, and the green tiles that matched the station’s characteristic ceramic roof were actually red paint over what appeared to be bricks.
The pizzeria kitchen was constructed in the original luggage area, which is another lucky find. According to Bennett, we arrived at the original exposed brick after removing the kitchen’s contents and scraping away all the debris.
Visitors will enjoy cocktails in the chic baggage-room lounge when Sybaris Bistro opens in its new location. The bistro’s kitchen will be located in a new extension to the back of the structure, and diners will be seated at tables in the station’s main room and the old ticketing area.
Bennett will carry on Sybaris Bistro’s renowned Northwest cuisine, which features homemade dishes and a monthly menu that varies according to the availability of fresh, sustainably produced ingredients from producers and growers in the Willamette Valley and beyond.
He stated, “We are not building a restaurant with a train theme, but we really want to honor the building’s history.”
An original bathroom was enlarged by six inches to make it accessible to those with mobility devices, just as the remainder of the ground level.
Additionally, Bennett stated that a terrifying steep staircase that had long since taken the place of the original ship’s ladder required to descend into the basement to fuel the boiler had been removed. The new, secure entrance to the basement is where the sawdust shoot used to be.
Bennett claimed that the State Historic Preservation Office, local residents who offered information, and artists from the past and present who worked on the train building were all helpful to him.
As a new roof underlayment is put and rotted rafters are rebuilt, all of the original ceramic roof tiles have been numbered and stored on pallets.
Bennett remarked, “I have the utmost respect for those who create beautiful structures and those who preserve historic structures.”
He discovered that in the 1970s, there was a drive to demolish historic Albany structures in order to create space for a retail center and other new construction. However, no-nonsenseBennett noted that youthful City Councilor Dick Olsen and Mayor Platt Davis joined forces to defend downtown.
To what extent did the Bennetts delve into historical details to inform their restoration decisions? The three apple trees in the side yard are the exact same types that Thomas and Walter Monteith, the founders of Baldwin, Winesap, and Yellow Newtown, planted on their homesteads in the 1840s.
Revitalization grant
Matt and Janel Bennett were persuaded to apply for the state’s revitalization grant by Lise Grato of the Albany Downtown Association, and they were granted it in 2022.
According to Grato, the Oregon Electric Railway station project satisfies a clearly defined need and satisfies the grant’s requirements of receiving support from the community, partners, and the city.
Buildings on properties in approved downtown districts may be purchased, renovated, or constructed with matching funds up to $400,000 awarded by the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant.
According to Grato, the Bennetts’ strong historic vision, knowledgeable staff, and capacity to finish the project on schedule while adhering to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Places were crucial factors in their grant approval.
The project is an excellent illustration of adaptive reuse for historic preservation, according to Stephens of Broadleaf Architecture, who created the refurbishment plans. “Given the reputation of Sybaris cuisine, moving Sybaris Bistro to a landmark property that was once the hub of Albany will reestablish the Oregon Electric Railway station as an anchor destination for downtown Albany,” she added.
More importantly, guests may now see sections not seen since the 1930s thanks to the restoration of the old freight loading section’s interior and surrounding environs.
“The Oregon Main Street program helps communities find valuable and long-lasting uses for historic properties that define a local heritage,” said Nicole Possert, executive director of the nonprofit organization Restore Oregon, which preserves historic structures.
According to Possert, Albany’s adaptive reuse of a disused train station as a restaurant will boost the city’s downtown economy and long-term vibrancy.
For additional details:For inquiries and to examine applications for an Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, contact the Oregon Heritage State Historic Preservation Office (503-986-0690, oregon.gov/oprd/OH).
From 1 to 4 p.m., a grant-specific online session is available for free. January 9.It is necessary to register. The deadline for 2025 grant applications is March 13.
Oregon real estate
-
Oregon homebuilding will rebound but still fall short of goal, even into next decade, forecast says
-
1907 Foursquare home in NE Portland sold after $65k price cut
-
Oregon homes for sale near this prized amenity score points with buyers
-
Economists expect mortgage rates to stay above 6% next year
-
Swamp rock star s Oregon ranch, listed at $2M, gets fast offer
Janet Eastman writes on trends and design. You can follow her on X@janeteastman and contact her at 503-294-4072 and [email protected].
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
