Morristown’s stately Community Theatre is getting a new neighbor: Don’s Burgers and Fries.
The posh Grand Cafe is getting a new neighbor, too– a pocket park to replace the old Washington Building after Morris County knocks it down this spring.
The Visiting Nurse Association of Northern Jersey, for its part, is not acting very neighborly, according to the town planning board.
On Thursday night the board approved nurse association plans for landscaping improvements to its James Street parking lot, and members were hoping the association might reciprocate by allowing apartment tenants at nearby 181 South St. to park there during evenings.
“I thought they would share the parking, but they didn’t want to,” board Chairman Michael Pooler said after the meeting. The association cited concerns about security and snow removal, he said.
Last fall, Mayor Tim Dougherty rapped the nursing association for not helping out. Tenants had used the lot before the association acquired the property in 2009.
BURGERS BY THE MAYO
The hamburger joint, meanwhile, will bring a distinctly different look to the vicinity of the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, also known as the Community Theatre.
Look for a silver-and-white storefront with a long “Don’s” sign sharing space with the red-brick Brick Oven restaurant. Named for a defunct restaurant in Livingston, the eat-in/ takeout burger business will sharply contrast with the white Corinthian pillars and Greco-Roman elegance of the Community Theatre, its next-door neighbor on South Street.
“It’s a shock,” said planning board member Stefan Armington. Yet town zoning ordinances do not restrict fast food restaurants or require conformity of appearance in that location, he said. The applicant, Michael Chutko of Morristown, already had discussions with the town Historic Preservation Commission, Stefan said.
Ultimately, planning board members unanimously granted a variance to allow the applicant’s sign to exceed municipal size limits.
‘POCKET PARK’ ACROSS FROM TITO’S BURRITOS?
In other planning board business, members heard a pair of “courtesy” presentations by applicants who did not require approvals. One involved Morris County plans for a park at Washington Street and Schuyler Place once an outdated administrative building is demolished.
Initially, the county wanted to extend a parking lot. The town planning board expressed reservations, and the county shifted gears.
“We got the good end of the deal,” Stefan said.
Two-thirds of the demolition site will become a grassy area; the other third will have a faux stone, patio-like flooring, Stefan related. Four park benches are proposed, along with a small wall facing Washington Street. Desmond Lloyd, owner of the adjacent Grand Cafe, expressed support for the park.
A county engineer told the board that the demolition could occur in May, Stefan said.
The board also heard details about a greenhouse that Grow It Green Morristown intends to erect at its Urban Farm at Lafayette community garden.
VIEWS OF THE WASHINGTON BUILDING; please click icon below for captions.
The whole presence of the way it looks on south street and next to brick oven does not look right. And the prices for a single burger despite that the burers are better than normal burger joints does not give right to the pricing.
I had gone to the original Don’s in Livingston since I was a baby, when I moved back a number of years ago and didn’t see it there I was in shock, the greatest Reubens ever, So for somebody to bring it back I say Thank You. We will be going soon, I just had a baby, so I will try her about the original Don’s the pickles the service and the Food, will bring back some happier times and memories
I wish they would do the chicken in the basket too. Great addition to M’town… I just wish they would have gone somewhere with more parking – they will need it. The Garage in Millburn servers Don’s burgers and they are just as good as I remember. I wonder if it is the same owner.
I received an e-mail telling me that Don’s will be opening next to the Morristown Community Theater. I was thrilled to forward the e-mail to many of my friends who, like me, enjoyed frequenting Don’s from its first days as a Drive-In, in the 1950’s right into the 1990’s. We were heartsick when it closed and no similar type establishment has ever been able to replace it. I’ve already made plans to show up with a group of friends for fried onions, a burger and a chocolate shake. Forget the diet. Don’s return will be a celebration.
The Livingston High School class of 1962 is planning our 50th reunion for October 2012, and I hope Don’s is in full operation. We plan on tasting the pizza burgers and onion rings!!!! Keep in mind, our “seal of taste approval” means your long lasting success!! :—)
Don’s Drive-in in Livingston was a classic restaurant, and greatly missed by many people. The burgers, shakes, and onion rings have never been duplicated. Some have tried.
Morristown would do well with this type of restaurant! It is certainly not a fast food restaurant. Comparing it to Burger King etc. is rediculous.
As a Livingston resident and former Don’s patron, as well as a patron of the Community Theater, I have a few comments for all to consider. Don’s was a landmark for decades, from its carhop service to a formal restaurant and bakery. Familiies would line up and wait patiently, for its food and baked goods. It was historic in its time and retaining its looks and signage adds to the historic image you are seeking. If the new operator serves good food, in the quality and tradition of the original, this will be a boon for Morristown and attract generations of former patrons to the site as well as introduce new ones to good food.
You guys are crazy if you think Don’s belongs near a McDonalds or at a Strip Mall. These iconic letterings saying, “Don’s” is based on the same logo/font of the famous Livingston, NJ restaurant that closed down years ago once Don sold his business. When Don was running it, the place was a gold mine and I would expect this new location, after all of these years where patrons of the original have waited, would be a gold mine once again and a huge revenue maker for Morristown. Once you bite into that famous Pizza burger and see all the income generated from this new restaurant, I think the negative comments will subside.
Would it be possible for a limited regulatory commission–pertaining only to neighborhoods that the town considers historical or gateways to the town?
NJ law allows two kinds of Preservation Commissions-advisory (which is what Morristowns is) and Regulatory. Exterior work must be reviewed by regulatory commissions within a designated zone, and the Commission then either approves (issue certificates of appropriateness) or denies applications. This provides strong protection within the Districts. The Commission would certainly support this, but its a hard thing to get through town governing bodies -Council’s – due to commercial and often residential property owners fear of restriction of their “rights”. There is some evidence, however, that jurisdictions with strong Commissions also have higher property values.
The facade of Don’s Burgers and Fries would fit in quite nicely in the strip mall down the street alongside the likes of Burger King and Cluck U, but it does not fit well on South Street. The previous building is so attractive in comparison.. I agree with the previous posters and ask. where is the integrity of the planning board?
Ken, now that the master plan is being revised, should the town create a mechanism for preserving the character of areas like this? Such loving care went into making the Community Theatre a showcase for Morristown, a focal point for the town… one would think that neighboring commercial venues could benefit by reflecting such a theme.
Ken, now that the master plan is being reviewed, should the town attempt to create some sort of mechanism for preserving the character of areas like this? Is this possible? Such loving care went into making the Community Theatre a showplace for Morristown, a focal point of the town… one would think that neighboring commercial ventures could do well by reflecting such a theme.
The Historic Preservation Commission did not endorse Dons – nor did we oppose. We spent time with the applicant, and a number of changes were made based on our recommendations, others were not. The building, while in the District is not contributing as a historic resource nor likely to be. Note that ” guidelines ” are guidelines, and cannot be mandated, and the Commission can only adivse the Board, it cannot require changes, etc.
Ken Miller chair HPC
What in the world was the, so called, “Historic Preservation Commission” thinking when they endorsed this Don’s Burgers? Why was the Mayor so anxious to have this approved? This is so out of character with the town guidlines and belongs on Route 10 next to a McDonald’s. Certainly not in historic Morristown or next to the Community Theatre.
So much for preserving the historic character of our town.