West Springfield Fire Department Station 4 is both a restaurant at the Big E and a working station with firefighters and rescue vehicles ready to respond to emergencies at the 17-day fair.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
WEST SPRINGFIELD — At the Eastern States Exposition, fairgoers can find a variety foods, from deep-fried Oreos to loaded baked potatoes to a variety of exotic foreign dishes. But there is only one place that offers classic American fare cooked and served by local firefighters.
Fairgoers who stop at the Firehouse Restaurant can enjoy real firehouse food in a large eat-in dining room. Operated by the West Springfield Fire Department, it serves breakfast and lunch, along with a variety of tasty snacks, including soft serve ice cream.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
Many community organizations run restaurants or food booths at the Big E, but West Springfield is the only fire department running a restaurant on the fairground. A fixture on Hampden Avenue for 60 years, the eatery is across from the New England Center building.
While it’s known for its unique setting — one wall chronicles the history of the department with various photos of firefighters in action along with a slew of firefighting memorabilia — it’s not just a restaurant. It’s also a working West Springfield firehouse, known as Station 4. Attached to the dining room is a single bay for a WSFD fire truck that sits ready to roll throughout the 17-day run of the fair, which begins Friday, Sept. 13.
West Springfield Fire Lt. Evan Culver said that on any given day of the fair, there are 18 to 20 firefighters throughout the fairgrounds, including those at Station 4 and the restaurant. They respond to all fire, medical and rescue emergencies throughout the fairground.
“We handle medical emergencies, fire alarm activations, investigations of any potential hazardous situation. We even had to remove patrons from a stalled ride one year,” said Culver, who is a nationally registered paramedic.
He said in addition to the one fire engine at Station 4, the department also staffs one to two ambulances, a fire apparatus dedicated to the circus, and several medical UTVs — utility task vehicles — at the Big E.
The brick structure was constructed by WSFD members and opened as a coffee and gift shop for the fair’s 1964 season. It replaced two tents that the department had used — one for serving coffee and doughnuts, and a second that sheltered a fire truck.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
“The idea to build a restaurant came from the members of the West Springfield Permanent Firefighter’s Relief Association,” said Culver. He said all proceeds from the restaurant benefit the Relief Association, which is a charitable organization composed of active and retired West Side firefighters. When the Relief Association was started in 1947, it provided a death and retirement benefit to assist families of former WSFD members.
“The funds are now largely utilized to assist charitable donations throughout the year, such as local organizations, youth groups [and] youth sports teams, or members of the community in need. That’s a very rewarding part of our work,” said Culver, who serves as the association’s secretary.
“In addition to raising money for our fund, one of the benefits of having the restaurant at the Big E is being able to meet many people from our community and build relationships outside of work,” said Culver. “People come in every year to visit or just to say hello and meet some of the firefighters who serve their community. It is also a big excitement for many kids to see our truck and meet ‘real firefighters.’”
He said all 77 members of the WSFD volunteer some of their time during the fair to help run the restaurant, and “there are also many of our retirees who come back every year to assist us. “
Each year, Culver said the restaurant — owned by the department, but on land owned by the Big E — serves 5,000 to 8,000 meals. All food, beverages and supplies needed to run it are purchased by the department from vendors at the Big E or local businesses.
Culver said the restaurant is always busy on Salute to West Springfield Day, the first Monday of the fair, but the middle Saturday is typically its busiest day every year.
“Sometimes the line will get out the door — especially for breakfast — but most of our members have been working at the restaurant for many years, so the lines move quickly,” he said.
He said the restaurant has always been evolving throughout its six decades at the Big E.
“Every year we attempt to update something,” he said “This year, we repainted the dining area and revamped all the memorabilia/decor throughout the inside. It has a totally different look. A couple of years ago we installed a new sign out front.”
He invited local fairgoers to swing by the restaurant for some “delicious food” served by the same firefighters who also serve and protect the community: “It’s a fun environment that a lot of tradition and also helps our retired firefighters.”
