SEBASTIAN – The old train station that was once on Main Street in Sebastian will soon be called Whistle Stop Gift Shop, according to someone who knows Tom Haines, the owner of the project.
The train depot has a long story, but we’ll make it short. It was moved to Fort Pierce several years ago where it sat alone and abandoned. When the City of Sebastian wouldn’t pay the cost to move it back, Haines became the primary custodian and brought it back using his own money. It’s a piece of history that wasn’t lost in some empty field in Fort Pierce.
It’s been sitting on a lot owned by Haines on Cleveland Street for almost a year. It’s going through some renovations at the moment. It has a brand new metal roof, new windows, and doors.
Whistle Stop Gift Shop will offer a mix of eclectic gifts, local art, and possibly a coffee shop. It will have an old General Store feel to it with a platform to offer cafe seating. The project is still in the works.
So far, it will be a local establishment that appreciates history and will complement local art.
We’ll have another update soon.
