Comments on: [UPDATE] Say Bon Voyage to the former Boathouse Restaurant property… http://www.newport-now.com/2009/06/23/former-boathouse-restaurant-property-moves-closer-to-demo/ Newport news. Now. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:47:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dotti Still http://www.newport-now.com/2009/06/23/former-boathouse-restaurant-property-moves-closer-to-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-1220 Dotti Still Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:23:15 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=418#comment-1220 I have lived in upstate NY all my life and fell in love with Newport at around the age of 18. I used to plan at least a few trips a year until I was about 35. It was then that I met Doc and Amy Vars at a Chowder cookoff. From that point on, I increased my visits to about 20 times a year. I miss the Boathouse people, laidback atmosphere, and of course, Doc and Amy. Probably it stands out as one of the most memorable and enjoyable times of my life and I will never forget the Boathouse. I have lived in upstate NY all my life and fell in love with Newport at around the age of 18. I used to plan at least a few trips a year until I was about 35. It was then that I met Doc and Amy Vars at a Chowder cookoff. From that point on, I increased my visits to about 20 times a year. I miss the Boathouse people, laidback atmosphere, and of course, Doc and Amy. Probably it stands out as one of the most memorable and enjoyable times of my life and I will never forget the Boathouse.

]]> By: greg ouellette http://www.newport-now.com/2009/06/23/former-boathouse-restaurant-property-moves-closer-to-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-638 greg ouellette Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:31:17 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=418#comment-638 didnt mean to say joe 'was' like he is not out there somewhere1 post your contact info if you are still out there reading this joe. greg "gary neuman" didnt mean to say joe ‘was’ like he is not out there somewhere1 post your contact info if you are still out there reading this joe.
greg “gary neuman”

]]> By: greg ouellette http://www.newport-now.com/2009/06/23/former-boathouse-restaurant-property-moves-closer-to-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-637 greg ouellette Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:28:26 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=418#comment-637 follow up comment on my dads bernie's comment: another short story about joe vars. i was working as a dishwasher in what must have been the summer of '82 and after being treated like one of the family got the bright idea to steal a large piece of prime rib. i wrapped it up and placed it in the garbage can before taking it out. on my way to the dumpster i was caught by a member of the family. in the ensuing, but quick trial there at One AM in the morning on the back deck, i was let go. my father realized a few days later that i wasnt working and after some questioning i told him what happened. he and i went down to the boathouse and had a pow wow with joe, who, like a caring but firm uncle, immediately welcomed me back. he actually called all of his young employees 'family'. it was a lesson in many things that joe would likely not remember but has had a lasting impact on how i see people, relationships and forgiveness. i have several memories when, at the busiest times when everything was balls to the wall going at 200%, joe would come in the kitchen all fired up, walk around to the lower paid employees and just walk up to you and proclaim "nice job neuman (i dont think he ever knew my real name), write on your timecard you get a 50 cent raise, you too sean". then he would turn and tell someone who wasnt a go getter that this is how they need to work to get ahead. what a shaping moment for a 14-15 y/o kid. of course i could go on and on. joe was a fun loving but serious man. flawed in many respects like all of us but at the important, deeper level a true quality human being. really. greg follow up comment on my dads bernie’s comment:
another short story about joe vars. i was working as a dishwasher in what must have been the summer of ‘82 and after being treated like one of the family got the bright idea to steal a large piece of prime rib. i wrapped it up and placed it in the garbage can before taking it out. on my way to the dumpster i was caught by a member of the family. in the ensuing, but quick trial there at One AM in the morning on the back deck, i was let go.
my father realized a few days later that i wasnt working and after some questioning i told him what happened. he and i went down to the boathouse and had a pow wow with joe, who, like a caring but firm uncle, immediately welcomed me back. he actually called all of his young employees ‘family’. it was a lesson in many things that joe would likely not remember but has had a lasting impact on how i see people, relationships and forgiveness.
i have several memories when, at the busiest times when everything was balls to the wall going at 200%, joe would come in the kitchen all fired up, walk around to the lower paid employees and just walk up to you and proclaim “nice job neuman (i dont think he ever knew my real name), write on your timecard you get a 50 cent raise, you too sean”. then he would turn and tell someone who wasnt a go getter that this is how they need to work to get ahead. what a shaping moment for a 14-15 y/o kid.
of course i could go on and on. joe was a fun loving but serious man. flawed in many respects like all of us but at the important, deeper level a true quality human being. really.
greg

]]> By: Bernie Ouellette http://www.newport-now.com/2009/06/23/former-boathouse-restaurant-property-moves-closer-to-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-636 Bernie Ouellette Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:47:35 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=418#comment-636 I was born on Carey Street, one street from the Boathouse. I was at the bar when it opened and patronized it until I left Newport. Joe and Amy Vars ran a class A business. They were very customer oriented. I belonged to The Incredable Off Broadway Ensamble Theater (TIFOBET). When we had fundraisers Joe would always provide trays of his incredable Corn Bread. When a blizzard hit Newport, my wife and me would trudge through knee to waist high snow to the Boathouse and Joe would open for us (They lived upstairs) and we would sit in front of his big fireplace and drink Cognac and enjoy the snow storm. His appreciation for the Military was unprecedented. If you had a military I.D. card, active or retired, your bill for you and every member of your family was 50% off. That included all drinks. People do not come any better than that. they will take away the building but they can not take away the great feeling we have for Joe, Amy and the rest of the Vars family. Joe if you read this, e-mail me at bouellette5@cfl.rr.com Love to hear from you. Bernie Ouellette Orlando, Florida. I was born on Carey Street, one street from the Boathouse. I was at the bar when it opened and patronized it until I left Newport. Joe and Amy Vars ran a class A business. They were very customer oriented. I belonged to The Incredable Off Broadway Ensamble Theater (TIFOBET). When we had fundraisers Joe would always provide trays of his incredable Corn Bread. When a blizzard hit Newport, my wife and me would trudge through knee to waist high snow to the Boathouse and Joe would open for us (They lived upstairs) and we would sit in front of his big fireplace and drink Cognac and enjoy the snow storm. His appreciation for the Military was unprecedented. If you had a military I.D. card, active or retired, your bill for you and every member of your family was 50% off. That included all drinks. People do not come any better than that. they will take away the building but they can not take away the great feeling we have for Joe, Amy and the rest of the Vars family. Joe if you read this, e-mail me at bouellette5@cfl.rr.com Love to hear from you.

Bernie Ouellette
Orlando, Florida.

]]> By: Helen M. http://www.newport-now.com/2009/06/23/former-boathouse-restaurant-property-moves-closer-to-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-635 Helen M. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:47:55 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=418#comment-635 Always sad to see something go, but this place has been a vacant eyesore for too long. I'm sure though, evidenced by the above poster, there are a lot of memories tied to it... Always sad to see something go, but this place has been a vacant eyesore for too long. I’m sure though, evidenced by the above poster, there are a lot of memories tied to it…

]]> By: greg ouellette http://www.newport-now.com/2009/06/23/former-boathouse-restaurant-property-moves-closer-to-demo/comment-page-1/#comment-628 greg ouellette Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:49:23 +0000 http://www.newport-now.com/?p=418#comment-628 i am 43. this was my first job when i was 14 living in the 5th ward two streets over (around 1980). joe vars owned it and when the tall ships and americas cup used to come this place was rocking. newport was a hell of a place to be a teen in the early 80's. ted turner used to hang out with joe after hours as a friend. i used to sweep around them as they tied one on. this was long before tbn and his mogul life. anyway, a lot of memories. i guess its just a building, but if it could talk... my goodness. greg ouellette bend, oregon i am 43. this was my first job when i was 14 living in the 5th ward two streets over (around 1980). joe vars owned it and when the tall ships and americas cup used to come this place was rocking. newport was a hell of a place to be a teen in the early 80’s. ted turner used to hang out with joe after hours as a friend. i used to sweep around them as they tied one on. this was long before tbn and his mogul life. anyway, a lot of memories. i guess its just a building, but if it could talk… my goodness.
greg ouellette
bend, oregon

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