A century-old bank building next to the train station has been renovated with more plans to bring a restaurant with outdoor and rooftop seating.

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The building at 1420 Irving St. dates to the turn of the 20th century. In this century,  it most recently housed a Wells Fargo bank some years ago, and before that, Wachovia, but in 1900 it was Rahway National Bank.

In a presentation to the Redevelopment Agency at its Dec. 14 meeting, Jayme Smaldone outlined renovations that have been made as well as a concept plan to bring a restaurant with outdoor dining and rooftop deck to the space. Renovations to second-floor office space did not require variances but a restaurant would need variances for parking as well as for encroachments on public space for outdoor seating.

The original building “is still there, it’s just been covered with a new facade,” Smaldone said, calling it a hidden gem that dates back about 120 years. The property has changed hands about 10 times over the years and the foot print has expanded at least two times. The building had been renovated and added on to three times “that we know of,” he said.

They wanted to pay homage to the building’s history so it’s been renamed The National, according to Smaldone. The building was acquired in February for $1.125 million through 1420 Irving St., LLC, according to property records.

Smaldone is founder and CEO of Mighty Ventures on Martin Street. He and his father moved their business from Brooklyn to Rahway about 15 years ago and now own three industrial properties in the city. “We see a lot more excitement in Rahway,” he said and are looking reinvest extra funds back into the city. “We were talking for about five years about doing something exciting in the center of town.”

Smaldone presented the proposal along with his attorney, Brian Kappock, and architect, Steve Carrozza. Following the presentation, the Redevelopment Agency approved a resolution appointing Smaldone’s 1420 Irving St., LLC as conditional redeveloper.

There’s about 10,000 square feet in all: 6,000 on the first floor and 4,000 on the second floor. A singular ground-floor tenant space has been transformed into four retail spaces, along with eight offices on the second floor. Whit PR, a 14-person public relations firm signed on to lease some of the office space. “More businesses here is the key to getting people downtown,” Smaldone said.

About 2,200 to 3,000 square feet fronting Irving Street would be ideal for a restaurant and lounge with outdoor seating, Smaldone said, and capitalize on concerts and events on the Train Station Plaza. Noise would be limited to standard outdoor dining and ambient music. The original 8-foot windows will be exposed, with two of them becoming the entrance, mostly for service, he said.

“The proper operator could do something special,” Smaldone said. A parking variance would be required as 1,020 square feet estimates 60 occupants and 1,900 square feet of rooftop space estimates 126 occupants, based on 15 square feet per occupant. According to city code, that would require 64 parking spaces (3 occupants per space) but he said it’s likely substantially less just for comfortable seating.

A variance would be required for three steps on Train Station Plaza for the restaurant’s entrance. There would be a ground-floor garden area to flow into which could be seen from Irving Street and a rooftop deck.

Attorney Chris Kozlowski, whose office is located on Vail Place, a public street behind the building and next to Train Station Plaza, expressed concerns to the Redevelopment Agency about encroachments. Vail Place is technically a public street that’s used to access his office as well as by emergency vehicles and Department of Public Works. He suggested that City Council may have to vacate the street.

The corner space closest to Irving and East Cherry streets is envisioned as a small music studio and performance space and Smaldone said someone who runs a studio in Garwood is interested. A variance would bee needed for the venue and recording studio for a handicapped ramp in the front.

The second floor, consisting of 3,500 to 4,000 square feet, did not require a variance, strictly cosmetic work, Smaldone said. The office had not be inhabited for about 20 years with “emerald green carpet and wood paneling” that’s been updated. “We tried to keep what was there,” he said while updating the interior, keeping The National sign and original tile floors, exposing brick that was completely covered, and creating desks from former teller windows made of bulletproof glass that weigh some 100 pounds.

Four walls of the building have the potential to be community murals, according to Smaldone: One on Train Station Plaza, one near the train station stairs, another near Vail Place, and one facing the NJ Transit platform. “It could be really transformative,” he said.

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