Steamers to return in downtown Bethel Station

Steamers is set to return under Artie Guy in the historic Bethel Station building. The building, formerly The Lunch Box, at Bo Diddley Plaza seen on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla.

Artie Guy, known in Gainesville for his Artie's Tempeh product that graces the menu of many local eateries, is set to resurrect his own restaurant.

Founded in 1982 and located just north of the University of Florida campus, Steamers was owned by Guy from 2000 to 2005 before he sold it to former Tasty Buddha owner Parker Van Hart, who closed it in 2011.

It's set to return under Guy in the historic Bethel Station building in downtown Gainesville's Bo Diddley Community Plaza. Based on the permitting timeline, Guy is hoping to open by mid- or late April.

Plaza construction and the fencing that went up Sunday won't affect Steamers, said Lynn Janoski, a project manager with the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency.

Built in 1925 as a Gulf Oil service station at the present location of the downtown parking garage, the structure was moved in the mid-1980s by the city to its present location in the corner of the plaza.

Renovations starting in 2008 turned the building into a restaurant space and it was home to the Lunch Box from 2010 until it closed in late 2014.

Steamers was one of 11 businesses that applied to fill the vacancy, and the selection process concluded with the City Commission approving a five-year lease in February. Because of construction, rent was waived for the first two months and will then be discounted to $850 a month.

After construction, it'll be bumped to $1,200, increasing 3 percent annually.

The keys were passed to Steamers on Sunday and renovations weren't necessary for the transition from Lunch Box, Janoski said.

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Steamers to return in downtown Bethel Station