Historic Bar Fixture Finds New Home in St. Joseph
By: Sarah Hatten
Updated: March 20, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) A downtown business owner has revived an old piece of furniture.
Chris Frangiadis stumbled upon it by accident, but ended up making it the focal point of his new lounge.
It may look like an ordinary wooden counter top, but it is actually a piece of the past.
"I'm very glad to see it placed here. It would make my aunt very happy to see, she was very proud of the bar. It was something she always liked to highlight in her house" said Scott Gann, former owner of the back bar.
The back bar, that's now sitting at Piatto 614 in downtown St. Joseph, had an interesting journey to its current resting place.
Gann was first introduced to the bar when he was in his early twenties. It's been in his family for decades.
"This bar belonged to my aunt who passed away about four years ago. She had purchased the bar at an auction," he said.
A bar called The Wooden Nickel, built in south St. Joseph in 1892, sold the piece to Gann's aunt. It's been tucked away for the past few years.
"After my aunt passed away, we took the bar to my place where it's been sitting ever since. Finally it's like somebody needs to use this bar. Let's get it out," said Gann.
So he posted the bar on Craigslist and Piatto's owner, Chris Frangiadis, found it.
"I thought that's an amazing piece of St. Joseph history and it's a beautiful piece of furniture so basically we grabbed that and built the rest of the bar around it," said Frangiadis.
"St. Joseph residents can enjoy it for years to come. That would make my aunt very happy and the rest of my family very happy," said Gann.
The back bar has lived in St. Joseph longer than the new owner, who wonders what memories it holds.
"Who knows the history and what went on in the first hundred years and hopefully it will be here another 100 years," said Frangiadis.
Another 100 years - they hope - as a focal point full of history.
Frangiadis paid $1,300 for the back bar, and says it was worth every penny.
Chris Frangiadis stumbled upon it by accident, but ended up making it the focal point of his new lounge.
It may look like an ordinary wooden counter top, but it is actually a piece of the past.
"I'm very glad to see it placed here. It would make my aunt very happy to see, she was very proud of the bar. It was something she always liked to highlight in her house" said Scott Gann, former owner of the back bar.
The back bar, that's now sitting at Piatto 614 in downtown St. Joseph, had an interesting journey to its current resting place.
Gann was first introduced to the bar when he was in his early twenties. It's been in his family for decades.
"This bar belonged to my aunt who passed away about four years ago. She had purchased the bar at an auction," he said.
A bar called The Wooden Nickel, built in south St. Joseph in 1892, sold the piece to Gann's aunt. It's been tucked away for the past few years.
"After my aunt passed away, we took the bar to my place where it's been sitting ever since. Finally it's like somebody needs to use this bar. Let's get it out," said Gann.
So he posted the bar on Craigslist and Piatto's owner, Chris Frangiadis, found it.
"I thought that's an amazing piece of St. Joseph history and it's a beautiful piece of furniture so basically we grabbed that and built the rest of the bar around it," said Frangiadis.
"St. Joseph residents can enjoy it for years to come. That would make my aunt very happy and the rest of my family very happy," said Gann.
The back bar has lived in St. Joseph longer than the new owner, who wonders what memories it holds.
"Who knows the history and what went on in the first hundred years and hopefully it will be here another 100 years," said Frangiadis.
Another 100 years - they hope - as a focal point full of history.
Frangiadis paid $1,300 for the back bar, and says it was worth every penny.
