Objective

The Bethel Station is an historic building located in the center of downtown Gainesville, directly adjacent to Bo Diddley Plaza at SE 1st Street and SE 1st Avenue. Built in the 1920’s as a service station and relocated to its present site, the small building boasts a large canopied area and unique, elaborately detailed architecture. Through a creative public/private partnership, the CRA implemented an adaptive reuse program for the building followed by a small-business incubation initiative to bring the Lunchbox Cafe to this site. The Indonesian-fusion restaurant Steamers signed a 5-year lease in 2015.