They came to argue passionately against the proposed demolition of a building that many feel is an historic landmark.

Charles McCollester, a labor history professor, called it "the Gateway to Homestead."

Urban designer David Lewis said, "It's like the flag of this community."

	Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette Chiodo's Tavern owner Joe Chiodo. left, gets a visit from former employee Long Van Le on Friday. Click photo for larger image. Related story The stuff of Chiodo's Tavern is the stuff of local history, life

Their passion is not just for the building, but also for the business housed within.

Joe Chiodo opened the door of his business 57 years ago. Although Chiodo's Tavern started out as a place where steel mill and factory workers would quench their thirst, it evolved into much more.

The tavern's guest book logs visits from people from all over the world, including famous people and ordinary people, blue-collar and white-collar workers, the rich and the poor. Corporate officials often include it on the tours given to prospective employees they are trying to woo.

"There is no building more precious than Joe's bar," said Lewis, of West Homestead, who is also an architect and artist. "It's the epitome of what Eighth Avenue is all about. If it's destroyed, part of our heart and part of our soul will be destroyed."

About 30 people attended the monthly meeting last Wednesday of the Steel Valley Historical Architectural Review Board. All but one of the speakers said the bar and the business should be preserved.

None of the nine board members challenged any of the tributes paid to Chiodo or his bar, but six voted to approve the demolition to make way for the construction of a Walgreens drugstore. Two voted "no," one abstained and one was absent.

Cincinnati developers Anchor Properties now must win the approval of Homestead Council, which meets tomorrow night. The Walgreens proposal is expected to be on the agenda.

The vote of the Historical Architectural Review Board is not binding on council, whose members are elected officials. Review board members are appointed by Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall council members.

Joe Chiodo was the only local resident who lobbied for demolition.

"For 20 years, I did not have a vacation. I want to retire from that bar," Chiodo said. "I don't care if I sell it or not. I have to retire. I am 86 years old. No one works at 86. I've been married to the same girl for 54 years and I have not had dinner with her for four months. No one lives like that unless they are separated or divorced."

Chiodo said his bar had been for sale for years and no buyers came forward.

As citizens and board members sang his praises, Chiodo said, "I am not that great. I'm a nothing and I am tired and I want to get out."

Structurally sound?

Voting in favor of recommending demolition of the bar and construction of the drugstore were West Homestead representatives William Roth, Dan Isaacs and William Stasko; Sheran Sullivan, of Homestead; Sonja Sailor, of Munhall; and at-large representative Mary Francis Miller.

Voting "no" were David Gilliland, of Homestead, and Walter Haglund, an at-large representative. Lloyd Cunningham, of Homestead, abstained and Joseph Ballas, of Munhall, was absent.

Gilliland, an engineer and code enforcement officer, said he voted "no" because he would like to see a report on the structural soundness of the building.

The three-story wooden structure was built in 1895 or 1896, Chiodo said, adding, "I don't have a structural report, but I'm ready to tear it down myself."

Haglund said he thought a study should be done looking into the possibility of saving the building.

"I feel there has to be another use for the building," he said. "Chiodo's is the portal to the business district. Under the proposed plan, we would see a parking lot. Is that really what this community needs?"

The tavern, at 107 E. Eighth Ave., is at the foot of the Homestead Grays Bridge.

Mike Ricke, a partner in Anchor Properties, said he would argue that people entering Homestead from the bridge first see advertising billboards painted on the side of the tavern.

"We recognize the importance of Joe's bar and we came up with a building that re-creates some of the features of surrounding buildings," Ricke said. Though Walgreens usually are one-story and have a suburban look, this drugstore has a design that would blend with the surrounding two-story buildings.

Walgreens would provide a new business, Ricke said. "It will be an asset and a shot in the arm to the business district."

The developer also plans to demolish an adjoining Shell gas station and a Subway restaurant. A new Subway would be built into the development.

McCollester, an associate professor of industrial and labor relations at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, asked the board for time to put together a group of buyers.

"Give us the chance till Oct. 1 or Nov. 1 to get pledges which would be cash by Jan. 1. Give people a chance to do something," said McCollester, who is also secretary of The Battle of Homestead Foundation. That group saved and restored The Pump House, part of the old Homestead Works steel mill.

Had their chance

"There was a huge window of opportunity for someone to buy the bar," Sullivan said. "For me, it's too little, too late, for people to come forward now."

She said she put "a half-million dollars into a building and we are waiting for more people to do the same. There is not much going on and I think we should honor Mr. Chiodo's wishes."

Sullivan is a business partner with review board member Sailor and her husband, Tim Sailor. The trio owns and operates Alexander Graham Bell Cafe, 224 E. Eighth Ave., Homestead.

"We do not have the right to tell Mr. Chiodo what he can do," Sailor said. "We just opened up a bar and it's one year and I am tired."

"This is probably the most difficult decision we have had to wrestle with," said Stasko, 19, of West Homestead council. "The difficulty I have is trying to justify going against Mr. Chiodo's wishes. All things change with time."

Roth, a Chiodo's customer since 1971, said, "Chiodo's is Chiodo's because of Joe. If he locks the door, there is no more Chiodo's. Past demolition requests have been rejected because there was no proposal to replace anything. Here, there is a plan [that means] money going into the community. I see it as a plus."

"I believe Mr. Chiodo is the historical landmark," Miller said. "I think development would be wonderful."

Cunningham made no comments during the meeting.

Isaacs said he worked 39 years in the Homestead mill and donated some of the things hanging from the ceiling of Chiodo's.

"Looking at the drawings, I think the developer is doing what we asked -- blending in with the town," he said. "Why not tear down the building and place something there honoring Mr. Chiodo? A statue or plaque?"

From the tavern's tin ceilings hang hundreds of items and artifacts, including steel worker tools, hard hats, baseball caps, World War II memorabilia and balls, shirts and other items commemorating sports teams.

Citizens and some board members said some of those items should be saved and displayed somewhere.