contains several independent eateries and a large communal dining area .
Rom and Chris Marsella say their family committed to involving local businesses , rather than a nationally recognized chef , and that decision has gained tremendous respect . “ This is not the largest project I ’ ve done ,” Rom says . “ Obviously , that was the railroad relocation , which was a monumental effort . And the Citizen Plaza buildings were much larger , but nothing has had as much interest and support as this food hall project .”
PICKING UP SPEED
Track 15 , which has been chugging along since 2020 , is approaching its final destination after facing delays due to the pandemic , supply chain issues and unplanned utility challenges . The $ 25 million project is on the fast track to get to opening day . Funding came from a $ 1 million Rhode Island Commerce grant , several private investments and the Marsella family . The Marsellas hired Matthias Kiehm , principal of Convivium Hospitality Group , and Michael Anthony , who has a background in hospitality ventures and beverage development in major Las Vegas restaurants , including Renoir and Bouchon , to get the job done . Vision 3 Architects of Providence and the Boston-based CM & B construction management firm completed the project .
The name Track 15 is a nod to the building ’ s origins as a train station . Built in 1898 , the station was the center of Rhode Island ’ s machinery , textile and jewelry industries , operating fourteen intercity rail lines before closing in 1986 when a smaller Amtrak station was built near the State House . Track 15 is a homage to the proverbial “ fifteenth rail ,” which will bring together like-minded eateries under one roof .
Rom Marsella revitalized Union Station back when the new Amtrak station was built . “ A lot of people forget that the first step in the renaissance that had happened was a railroad relocation , which kicked it off first and reopened all that land downtown that became the capital center ,” says Chris Marsella .
Rom reflects on the redevelopment as a team effort . “ One thing I learned early on in this whole concept of how do you bring a city back ? You can ’ t do it alone ,” he says . “ You might have the ideas , but you need to be able to reach out to elected officials , to the business community , etc ., and convince them to put their support behind it — without their support , it would be just another plan on the shelf .”
The Marsella family originally reimagined the station as a mixed-use project of five historic buildings with the main terminal serving as the headquarters for the Rhode Island Foundation , and before that , it was Cookson America ’ s offices . The concept for the nationally acclaimed restaurant chain , The Capital Grille , also was born here in 1990 .
“ It was here that the small local restaurateur named Ned Grace conceived of a restaurant concept around steaks . At the time , he was looking out at a massive construction site with piles of dirt and cranes and roadways going in different directions all the way up to the State House , where there was nothing . Ned Grace understood what it could be ,” Chris says . “ The Capital Grille name came from the fact that from the front door of the Capital Grille , you could see the dome of the State House . And it has obviously gone on to become a national phenomenon .”
The Capital Grille now has more than seventy locations across the United States and Central and North America .
In 1993 , Union Station also became home to the city ’ s first brewpub , Union Station Brewery . Other establishments included Raphael ’ s Bar Risto , Rí Rá , a popular Irish pub , and Luxe Burger , which opened in 2005 and closed in 2020 . At the height of its activity , there was a diverse mix of restaurants offering different experiences . But as time marched on , guests began to prefer casual experiences .
“ Many of them were serving burgers and beers and were glorified sports bars . It became a less curated experience , which eventually led to a lot of these restaurants eating each other ’ s lunch ,” Chris says . The Capital Grille eventually moved to a new riverfront location across the street in 2015 . “ It left this massive hole here at Union Station , so our family , having long-term interest here historically , but also continued interest in the office buildings and development site , needed a solution .”
LEFT FROM TOP : The food vendors of Track 15 pose together at a preview party at Giusto in Newport ; a rendering of a food stall .
As businesses closed or pulled out as tenants of Union Station , they were determined to come up with a plan . “ In order to bring back some life here , we needed a spark , and seeing these
56 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I FEBRUARY 2025