Stops We Like: The Station
(2023) As Bucks County cyclists, we are always on the lookout for great stops as well as great start/ end points to rides. After a recent renovation, an historic garage in Dublin, PA, has been repurposed, and it is possibly the best ride stop ever created.
North of Doylestown and just over the ridge, there is a town that is experiencing a renaissance. Dublin, Pennsylvania, once housed a Dairy Queen and a diner. The diner closed up as well as the local grocer, and many residents were left wondering what to expect next. Next to the diner was a dilapidated historical garage that had potential. Contemporary housing was permitted around the building, but the brick structure at the center of it all needed a calling. It needed something purely Bucks County. Several businesses delivered.
It would be easy to drive past the one-acre parcel that makes up the building simply called The Station. From either direction, that simple missed navigation can be remedied by taking the turn after passing the building. As cyclists, an easy way to access The Station is through preserved farmland off of Smith School Road and Deep Run Road.
From the back the brick has been painted with contemporary black. There is a major entrance, but cyclists looking for a table might find it simpler to roll around the wall highlighting the most celebrated Bucks County beer: Neshaminy Creek Brewing. Park the bikes against the wall adorned with their logo, snap an Instagram pic, and click-clack through the - hopefully open - garage doors for a pint. The Stops We Love hosts the Croydon-based Neshaminy Creek Brewing as well as bay doors to add to the welcoming environment. Sit at the tables on the patios with ride mates and cheers to a successful ride. Should any of the riders want food, the options only increase by going farther into the 1930s garage bay where four options await.
Through the double doors and into the service bay of The Station, one can select Goldie’s Grill. Named for the diner next door that could also become operational again, at The Station, Goldie’s fries up regular standbys like cheesesteaks, fries, and wings. They also have fountain drinks and water to replace fluids lost or blood sugar dips for those hard efforts.
The outdoor seating makes The Station a unique experience that leaves some intending to stop in for a quick moment stick around for an entire evening.
Toward the back of the service bay are two other vendors: Bristol-based Itri Wood Fired Pizza and Taqueria Tlaxcali. Like Neshaminy Creek Brewing, this is Itri’s satellite restaurant. Though it’s a small space with a wood-fired kiln, they crank out personal pizzas that have immense flavor. Next door is a newer vendor in Taqueria Tlaxcali who serve some of the most flavorful tacos, packed with fresh ingredients to have one considering a second order.
Should a straight shot of sweetness be desired, The Station features the Bucks County chain Nina’s Waffles in the old office of the service shop. Slinging Liege-inspired waffles, Nina’s can top any of their Belgian pearl sugar desserts with homemade ice cream and Nutella. If a Euro vibe is needed for a mid-ride break or finish line, a Liege-inspired waffle is certainly as Belgian as it gets.
Take all those possibilities and sit under a patio umbrella. There are shaded areas such as where the gas pumps used to reside, up against the Main Street facade. Time it right and the area outside the service bay where all the food can be ordered gets shaded by old growth trees across the street later. Call the team car and invite the family over to play cornhole near the parking lot or sit around the propane fire pit encircled with Adirondack chairs. One warning is that not all rides end here, but certainly some have come to an end out of happenstance because of the good vibes. Our recent visits have been struggles to re-mount the bike and head home because of the good times in progress.
One area of improvement, though there’s likely no room for such a vendor: there is no coffee service at The Station. Given the space premium, there really is no location for a Bucks County coffee vendor to add something, especially considering the random, yet well-placed, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game in the corner. Don’t take away the Ninja Turtles vending machine.
The Station has been an incredible addition to the area because of its versatility. With great craft beer, enjoyable food, and a historic space, the great times could simply end there. But what sends The Station over the top is the outdoor experience where people come together. Each time we’ve stopped, the outdoor area is full of people having a great time. But there aren’t too many people there. This is good news in case you were wondering if you have to wait in line to photograph your bike under the Neshaminy Creek Brewing logo on the north wall that would look great on your social media feed.
