Brian Hagberg
YOUNGSVILLE, Pa. – The Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department is about to go from putting out fires to lighting fires . . . on the griddle, grill and stove, that is.
(Photo courtesy TripAdvisor. The Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department recently completed the purchase of Richards Family Restaurant. The VFD will run the restaurant as a non-profit and use revenue generated to help offset costs at the VFD.)
In a letter dated Nov. 6, the Youngsville VFD announced that it had recently completed the purchase of Richards Family Restaurant in Youngsville. The purchase was made as volunteer fire and emergency services attempt to find new ways to bring in revenue.
“In a time when it is difficult to find fundraising avenues and with decreasing reimbursements for fire and emergency services from insurance companies we decided we should seek out another funding stream,” the letter said.
The restaurant will be renamed Station 61, after the VFD, and will remain open to the public. It will be run as a non-profit and money generated from the restaurant will be used to offset costs at the fire department.
“We will be passing on the profits from the Station 61 Family Restaurant non-profit into the Youngsville Fire Department non-profit to help fund projects, purchases, equipment, etc.,” the letter said.
According to the letter, the VFD borrowed all money used to fund this purchase.
“We did NOT use tax dollars, donations to the fire department or our buildings to purchase the restaurant,” the letter said. “We did borrow all that we needed to finance this purchase.”
Messages and emails seeking further comment were not returned as of 10 p.m. Friday.
“We are sincerely pleased to be serving our community in this new adventure, and look forward to your continued support of the Youngsville Community, Station 61 Family Restaurant and the Youngsville Fire Department,” the letter said.
