Montpelier has enjoyed a reputation as the only state capital without a McDonald's (never mind the short distance to the one just outside the small city, on the Barre-Montpelier road) or a Starbucks. For some weeks now, it may have been the only state capital without a bus station.

That distinction looks to be coming to an end before the tulips bloom.

The bus station at the Carr lot on Taylor Street closed on April 3, as The Bridge and the Times Argus have reported. The Times Argus also reported that owners of Rhapsody Café were interested in becoming the new ticket office and waiting area.

Lunch customers at Rhapsody today saw a Greyhound representative sitting down with the owners, the Welters family, to hash out the details. They signed no contract, reports Elysha Welters, but they figured out the information that will go into the contract. The bus will stop outside M&M beverage, just next door. 

Though Rhapsody officially opens at 11:30 am, Welters said that Greyhound customers will be able to come into the store earlier than that to buy a ticket for the 11:30 am bus to White River Junction and connecting points. (Customers who want a quiet place with an internet connection and don't mind a little set-up activity have for some time been welcomed in after 11:00 am.) All other departures, except the 3:30 am departure to Burlington, are during Rhapsody's normal 11:30 am - 8:00 pm hours. They plan to extend their Monday-Saturday operations to Sundays (possibly closing earlier than 8 pm), both for café customers and ticket sales.

Welters expects to start selling tickets within a couple weeks. Until then, customers can buy tickets on line or by telephone (1-800-231-2222), and the bus will continue stopping at the Carr lot.

Welcome back, bus station!