New Store to Open at Old “Number 5″ Restaurant Site in Binghamton

A woman who grew up on Binghamton's West Side is preparing to launch a new business on the ground floor of a former city firehouse.

Katie Kane is about to open "The Simply Space" in the historic building that was home to the Number 5 restaurant for more than four decades.

The business will include a clothing boutique called Simply Apparel and a spray tanning studio called Simply Tan.

Kane is looking forward to operating The Simply Space in the historic firehouse where her grandfather, John Costello, once worked. She said when she walked through the former fire station with her father, he pointed out where he ate lunch with his dad.

Kane said Costello started his firefighting career at the Number 5 site. He ultimately served as assistant administrator to the fire chief before retiring in 1973.

The Simply Space business is the latest tenant at the Number 5 Commons located at the Vestal Parkway and South Washington Street.

A grand opening event for The Simply Space is scheduled for Friday.

The second floor of the iconic firehouse has been renovated and now is being used as office space. A neighboring building on South Washington Street has two businesses - Common Soil Juicery and Brix Barber Company - on the street level. Two more businesses are expected to move into that building's second floor soon.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.