By Kevin Coughlin
The owner of the Tashmoo Restaurant & Bar said a 228-seat restaurant proposed next door will cater to the same clientele, which won’t cause concerns like patrons of another establishment owned by his family.
“We don’t get young troublemakers. We don’t have the issues some of the nightclubs do,” David Walsh told the Morristown planning board on Thursday.
Walsh got permission –with restrictions–from the town council earlier this year to extend Tashmoo’s liquor license next door to 8 DeHart St., where he plans to demolish a three-story house and build a $3 million, two-story restaurant with a 1,200-square-foot outdoor patio.
He told the planning board he anticipates serving the same customers who frequent Tashmoo.
“We have an older crowd. We never get the very young crowd, and frankly, we don’t want one,” Walsh said.
He said The Laundromat, his family’s nightclub on DeHart Street, has been attracting a more mature audience, too, since its transformation from the Dark Horse Lounge in March.
The Dark Horse “had a reputation for being younger,” said Walsh, adding: “It slid for awhile.”
KITCHENS AND COURTYARDS
Board members grilled Walsh about seating plans. Specifically, whether his proposed restaurant will encourage people to stand and drink, which could increase occupancy substantially.
Board member Joseph Kane questioned the size of the proposed kitchen. An undersized kitchen might lead to slow service, prompting customers to stand and drink while waiting for tables.
South Street resident Tim Reuther suggested it could indicate that the place, which will have four bars, is intended more as a drinking establishment than an eatery.
For years, residents have complained of late-night misbehavior by young bar patrons roistering through their neighborhoods.
Community Place residents, whose backyard abuts the rear of the proposed restaurant, on Thursday also requested that certain windows remain closed, and that air conditioning units be relocated, to minimize noise. Fifty-nine apartments are under construction across DeHart Street, facing the site.
Walsh agreed to remove a cupola from the plans, because its dimensions would have required separate approvals from the board of adjustment.
His attorney, Brian Fahey, presented architect John Lyons, who testified that the kitchen size was appropriate for the restaurant.
But the kitchen has not been designed yet, and planning board Chairman Joseph Stanley said that did not give him a “real warm and fuzzy feeling.”
He asked Walsh to return on Jan. 26, 2017, with more details about the kitchen and plans for odor and noise control.
“I’m sure, based on the owner’s testimony that he wants to be a good neighbor, we want to make sure that everybody lives in harmony,” Stanley said. “We want to make sure all these issues are adequately addressed.”
PARKING AND CURFEWS
Parking is another issue. A restaurant of this size should provide 205 parking spaces, according to town Planner Phil Abramson. Walsh’s plans call for use of the DeHart Street parking garage, but a February 2016 study said the garage is 90 percent full on show nights at the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
Abramson also has recommended finding a new home for the house slated for demolition. He has described it as an historic structure, which was moved from Pine Street some years ago.
The Walshes have envisioned big things for 8 DeHart St. for some time. In 2012, the town council rejected a bowling alley/ bar pitched by David Walsh’s brother, Billy Walsh.
After vigorous public debate, plans for a retractable restaurant roof were retracted by David Walsh in April, and the council nixed his request for a 2,200-square-foot courtyard and 2 am alcohol sales on select dates.
Instead, the council limited the courtyard to 1,200 square feet as originally approved. Tashmoo can apply for special curfew waivers at its annual liquor license renewal, like other establishments. Liquor cannot be served past 11 pm outdoors, or past midnight indoors. (The town curfew is 2 am.) No cooking or bar is allowed outside.
Parking, parking, parking. There is none for this project.
David Walsh has displayed nonthing less than respect & good business practices within Morristown. Should any board member have visited Tashmoo it surely would be clear of the age group, type of patrons and the manner in which Mr. Walsh conducts this establishment. One can only look at the history of the establishment and base many decisions. As a past member of the board, no phase of a project was ever approved without board members visiting. It worked then and will work now. The line of question indicates limited knowledge and certainly no in person visit. Some board members need be more attentive…..displaying their responsible interest.
It is a good project.
I’m sure if someone really cares about that old house they will purchase it and move it themselves. I bet it could be had for a bargain price.
@Linda It doesn’t fit where it currently is. It will be very much out of place especially when Metropolitan Lofts is completed
It would be a shame to demolish and lose yet another valuable part of Morristown’s rich and colorful history. This building was first on Pine Street, directly behind the Community Theatre, on the site that’s now home to a multimillion dollar addition to the Mayo Center.
It’s already been moved, renovated and repurposed once. Does it really now need to be moved again or demolished for yet another bar?
Great project. Will definitely cater to residents of the new lofts building as well. Hopefully they can find a place for the current structure. It really is a nice historic building. Just would fit better in a different spot.