City Beat: Station House employees begin goodbyes

News that the owners of the Chattanooga Choo Choo have planned a major renovation was accepted as great news. The place needs it.

News that The Comedy Catch would be coming on board and moving its operation from Brainerd Road, where it has been for almost 20 years, was also met with approval by many. The fact that it means the end of the Station House Restaurant however, is sad news to a lot of people.

Former employees, and there are dozens and dozens, have created a Facebook page called Station House Employees Reunion. They will get together Saturday to hug necks, swap stories, probably cry a little and laugh. It's a good bet there will be some singing as well.

They will first gather at the Choo Choo's Victorian Lounge at 5:30 p.m. Actually, smaller groups have been getting together all week at various karaoke bars. They will meet again on Sunday at noon for brunch at The Chattanoogan.

In case, you never made it down to the Station House, it has been in operation since the early to mid-'70s when the Choo Choo became a hotel/tourist destination. It features singing waiters who serve and entertain. Over the years, some of the city's best singers and musicians earned a living there.

They've been swapping stories on the Facebook page and even to outsiders, it's pretty entertaining stuff. The funniest moments at the Station House category should bring a lot of memories to workers and patrons, and probably anyone who has ever waited tables.

There are lots of tales of forgetting lyrics, singing to empty rooms and strange requests.

Someone also started a thread listing the famous people who ate there, and it's pretty impressive. Among the celebs who visited are Red Skelton, Reese Witherspoon, Wayne Newton, Ray Stevens, Merle Haggard, Liberace, Kenny Rogers, Eddie Van Halen, the Bay City Rollers, George Duke, John McEnroe (who sat in on guitar) and Ross Bagdasarian Sr., the creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

The remodel is supposed to be done by early spring, the Station House likely to close after the holidays.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354.

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