Community Rallies to Help State Street T Survive Pandemic
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| Dennis St. Pierre, left, and Robert Cellana, right, thought the pandemic might spell the end for the bar they've owned since 1983. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The community came out in force on Monday to ensure that the city's favorite watering hole survives the pandemic shutdown.
More than 600 spaghetti dinners were served up to benefit the State Street Tavern, a small bar that's been something of a second home to many for more than four decades.
"It's amazing, all the volunteers, friends and family," said co-owner Robert Cellana. "I almost feel like crying."
Cellana and Dennis St. Pierre, co-owners and longtime friends, were forced to close the "T's" doors in March once COVID-19 hit a critical mass in the state. Only taverns serving food could remain open at the time, and then only for takeout.
With no food service, that left the 40-year-old bar on life support and in danger of never reopening.
A tavern on the other side of the city, Mingo's Sports Bar and Grill, came to the rescue.
Spearheaded by manager Morgan Leveque, Mingo's cooked and served the spaghetti supper. The support was overwhelming.
"I never dreamed anything could be like this, never thought this many people would actually come out," said St. Pierre.
St. Pierre and Cellana greeted friends as an assembly line of volunteers and family members put together meals-to-go for supporters — directed by Santa Claus — drove up to the front of the Roberts Avenue restaurant.
And it wasn't just local support — more than a few checks came in from former T patrons now living out of state.
The speaks to the close connections built in the cozy bar over the years.
"A lot of times everybody in there is related. And if they're not related, they should be," St. Pierre laughed.
He said he missed the camaraderie of the State Street T's "family" and especially old friends who've passed on since the bar's closing in March.
"Some of it's old age, you know, some are just going to the big one in the sky and we don't get to say goodbye," St. Pierre said. "That's the tough part."
They're hoping with vaccine rolling out and if the pandemic gets under control — and thanks to strong support of the community and their peers — the T's doors will open again.
"We're going to be able to reopen," St. Pierre said.
"This will help us hang in there," said Cellana. "This will help us tremendously."
