Commuter Rail Building Almost Ready for Reopening

Soon, morning commuters in Mansfield will be able to once again get their coffee and jump on the train from the same location.

Pending an inspection by the board of health, the selectmen voted 4-0 to approve a common victualler license for the Fire Box Café, which will operate out of the the building at the Mansfield MBTA commuter rail stop.

As one of the operators of the new café, Selectman Oliver Kozlowski chose to recuse himself from the vote. Kozlowski’s partner in the operation will be Steven DiSarro, who is a chef and caterer.

The vote was more than welcomed by the selectmen and town officials, who have been fielding questions concerning when the coffee shop would open again since its temporary closing in June.

After the vote, Kozlowski said he wanted to set up shop at the train station after noticing there wasn’t a Starbucks-like establishment in town.

“People can get some really good food and that elusive really good cup of coffee,” Kozlowski said of his new establishment.

Like in the past, the shop will operate in the morning, between 5 a.m. and noon on weekdays, selling food, beverages, and train tickets. Kozlowski said they are looking at the possibility of operating during the evening commute and on weekends but will focus on weekday mornings for now.

In June, the shop closed after the previous vendor, Judy Jonah chose to retire rather than renew her contract with the owner of the building, GATRA.

The Fire Box Café is aiming have all their equipment in the building this weekend and to open between late next week and the Thursday after Labor Day.