Musicians To Help Bar Raise Funds for Liquor Permit Renewal

Local musicians will once again gather at The Fireplace Cafe this weekend to support the popular Collinsville watering hole.

From 4 p.m. to closing, singers and bands will donate their time to raise funds for a liquor permit renewal, which is due in mid May.

While the building may be sold at some point, permittee Phyllis Carroll said the bar operations are not in financial straits but help is needed for the $2,000 permit, which is good for one year.

“It is strictly for the permit,” she said.

The music for the evening will range in styles from the acoustic-based, often humorus and bluesy originals of Chris Sheehan, to the wry, cutting edge songs of Ed Hoyer Jr. to the searing blues of Avon-based Jr. Krauss and the Shakes to the rock sounds of Robot IQ. Also performing will be Joanna Szymanski, who hosts a Thursday night open mic at the venue. 

“It’s all over the place,” organizer Mike Toti, drummer for Poor Nephews, an original rock band that will close the evening, said about the musical styles. 

Acts and approximate start times for the evening are as follows: 

Dan Reilert - 4 p.m.; Ed Hoyer - 5 p.m.; Joanna Szymanski - 5: 30 p.m.; Prado and Rootes - 6 p.m.; Chris Sheehan - 6:30 p.m.; Ken Haller - 7 p.m.; Robert Fullerton - 7:30 p.m.; Jr Krauss & The Shakes - 8 p.m.; Robot IQ - 9:30 p.m.; The Poor Nephews - 11 p.m.

A P.A. system will be provided by Doug Fay of CT Audio & Theatrical Supply.

Toti said he agreed to run the event after Carroll asked him to since he had organized a memorial concert to the late Bill Wilson Jr., who died last October.  

“How can you not help,” he said. “It’s like playing for family there.” 

Toti said the Fireplace is also just a relaxing, no-pressure atmosphere. 

“I always find it very comfortable,” he said. 

The business and the building that houses the cafe is for sale at $300,000. The upstairs has four one-bedroom apartments that are currently uninhabitable, said Julius Fialkiewicz, owner of Realty Works, LLC.

“The building needs major work,” Fialkiewicz said. 

He said the building is not in the historic district and has no specific sale restrictions, but would love to see the cafe continue. 

“It’s a landmark,” he said. “I would love to see it restored and I’d love to see it remain a bar. I think the people who run it would do a good job on it.” 

Carroll said she and her husband Duke are not in a position to buy the building but said she would be interested in continuing to run the bar.

“I love the people,” she said. “It’s in my blood.”