On brink of approvals, application for Latino sports bar withdrawn in Morristown

Futbol-Landia on Early Street has had about 25 single-day liquor permits per year; William Walsh seeks permission to transfer a liquor license there permanently. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Futbol-Landia on Early Street has had about 25 single-day liquor permits per year; William Walsh seeks permission to transfer a liquor license there permanently. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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A controversial application for a Latino sports bar on Early Street in Morristown has been withdrawn because of issues with the landlord, the applicants said on Thursday.

“My son and I are extremely disappointed,” said William Walsh. He and his son, Mike Walsh, had been seeking town approvals since last spring to transfer a liquor license from a defunct South Street restaurant to Futbol-Landia at 4 Early St.

While their plan for a restaurant and bar where Hispanic residents could watch televised soccer games was applauded by some within the Latino community,  it encountered opposition from residents and a redeveloper. But what blindsided the applicants, William Walsh said, was a last-minute pullout by Futbol-Landia’s landlord.

“Everything was fine with the [re]developer and we were all set,” he said. “The landlady, who we thought would like having the rent, all of a sudden clammed up…”

Futbol-Landia on Early Street has had about 25 single-day liquor permits per year; William Walsh seeks permission to transfer a liquor license there permanently. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Plans for a Latino sports bar on Early Street appear to have dried up. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Tax records list the owner as the late Evelyn Dante, a Morris Plains resident who died in 2005. Representing the estate is Judy Walker of Accurate Business Services in Hackettstown.

Calls to Judy –who attended at least one public hearing in Morristown to support the liquor license transfer– and to her lawyer, Maurice McLaughlin of Totowa, were not immediately returned on Thursday.

SECOND SETBACK

This is the second setback of the summer for members of the Walsh family, who own the Dark Horse Lounge, Sona Thirteen and Tashmoo.  In July, the town council narrowly rejected a request by Billy Walsh,  William’s son, to transfer another liquor license to 10 DeHart St. to create a bowling alley/bar.  Residents of that neighborhood raised concerns about added noise, litter, parking problems and unruly behavior from bar crowds that already have them on edge.

Those same fears were raised by residents near Futbol-Landia. They were countered by the Morris County Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce, the Centro Biblico church and others who said Morristown lacks a bar where Latinos can feel comfortable.

The town council gave its blessing to the project, and the Futbol-Landia application appeared to have surmounted its biggest obstacles–overdue taxes owed by the landlord,  and an objection by Morristown Development LLC, the company leading a massive redevelopment of the Speedwell Avenue area.

The redeveloper had contended that a zoning permit issued by the town to the Walshes violated the Speedwell Avenue redevelopment agreement.

William Walsh, who is an attorney, said he ironed that out with the redeveloper by pledging to shut down the bar business when the redevelopment project finally reached that stretch of Early Street. He said his other key concession required Judy Walker, the landlord, to affirm that she would not rent to another bar if and when the Walshes left Futbol-Landia.

But everything unraveled when the Walshes were unable to nail down that commitment from the landlord, according to William Walsh.

Now, he said, he and his son Mike are seeking a new site for a bar, possibly on Speedwell Avenue.

“We’re looking around,” William Walsh said. “It’s a big world. We’ll survive.”

Billy Walsh opted against pressing an appeal for his bowling complex on DeHart Street; he said he pondering what else to do at that location.

DOWNTOWN PATROLS CONTINUE

The town, meanwhile, continues to fund expanded weekend police patrols outside downtown bars while a council subcommittee studies how to make the bars pay for extra security.

Increased foot patrols were launched as an eight-week summer experiment, at a projected total cost of $14,800 in overtime. Billy Walsh and William Walsh said they have not yet heard from the subcommittee, though they are willing to participate. William said he would contribute toward the foot patrols “if expenses are equitably apportioned” among downtown bars.

Bar owners will be invited to join the discussion once the subcommittee identifies a legal way to charge them for security services, said Council President Michelle Dupree Harris.

 MORE ABOUT THE FUTBOL-LANDIA APPLICATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

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