Station 55 changes hands

The owners of two loved downtown Gilroy restaurants are handing over one of their venues – Station 55 on Fifth Street – to a first-time restaurant owner who is thrilled to make the eatery “the place to be” in town. 

Charles Davis, 33, will take over Station 55 next week. Originally from Santa Clara, he’s lived in Gilroy for six years and has 15 years experience working various positions in the restaurant industry.

“It’s always been my dream to own one of my own,” Davis said. “And now I do.”

Davis said he plans to continue the work that former owners Bobby and Fran Beaudet started. In the coming months, he’ll make changes to the menu here and there, but he plans to keep the restaurant’s current name, staff and decor. 

“They had something really good going here. Now my goal is to put the final polish on it,” Davis said. 

It’s fitting that the restaurant – at 55 Fifth Street – is in Gilroy’s original fire station, because Davis plans to give back to the community’s public service agencies such as the Gilroy Fire Department, the Gilroy Police Department and local veterans agencies by offering discounts to their members and by supporting them in fundraisers. 

He also refers to his customers as “neighbors” and hopes to retain the hometown spirit that Bobby and Fran Beaudet gave the restaurant. 

Bobby Beaudet sold Station 55 so he could hone his focus on Old City Hall on Monterey Street, where he and Fran opened the newer, more upscale eatery roughly seven months ago.

“It’s just time to slow down,” said the former owner.

Beaudet said it was too difficult for he and his wife to run two restaurants and work full time at other jobs. Bobby is a project leader for a construction company and Fran is a regional vice president for Carl’s Jr. 

According to Beaudet, business has been “phenomenal” at Old City Hall since its opening in November 2012. 

“We’ve had parties, weddings, concerts, it’s been great,” he said.

The Beaudet’s opened Station 55 in Gilroy’s historic firehouse on March 2010. Previously, the restaurant was called Firehouse Bar & Grill. 

Station 55 offers free live entertainment every night, including Karaoke nights, live bands and comedy performances.