[9] The fire station at the time had a requirement to be staffed by people of color, a city ordinance allegedly created to increase minority support for the government.

Despite this, the fire chief decided to move the station's existing crew and their chemical engine to a new chemical engine station on West Broad Street, as the equipment needed to be moved and the existing crew was trained and experienced with the machinery.

[15][16] In 1980, an architect and restaurateurs attempted to purchase the building and renovate it to house "Fat Tuesday", a New Orleans or Bourbon Street-style French bistro.

[16] In 1986, Ogden reached a compromise with the community groups, with an agreement not to create a restaurant, and instead have office or retail space on the first floor and apartments on the second.

[3] In 1987, John and Becky Ogden renovated the building into the Columbus Music Hall, which hosted jazz musicians for two decades.

[19] Visitors to the music hall over its history included Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Tom Russell, Jefferson Airplane guitarist-turned-bluesman Jorma Kaukonen, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the group Dry Branch Fire Squad.

[3] It closed in 2008, with a "Farewell to the Firehouse" concert taking place on April 30 that year and a final performance on May 2, 2008.

The development company performed another renovation, including modernizing the space and making repairs to the building's original wooden firehouse doors.

Though the reviewer had qualms with the counter ordering style and simple food trays, they admitted that in a full-service restaurant, dishes would be smaller and more expensive.