If there is a perfect place for another Morristown bar, William Walsh thinks he has found it.
Across from Headquarters Plaza, he wants to convert two Speedwell Avenue storefronts into “Veronica’s Speedwell,” a bar and “All-American grill” similar to the Tashmoo Restaurant & Bar on the other side of the Morristown Green.
“If you took a map and asked where is the least offensive block to this town council and the public in general, this would be it,” said William, patriarch of a family with stakes in Tashmoo, the Dark Horse Lounge and Sona Thirteen in town.
First, he noted, the Speedwell site–comprising a former deli and dairy shop, adjacent to a salon at the intersection of Cattano Avenue–is far removed from residents of the 40 Park and Vail Mansion luxury condos, foes of prior proposals by family members.
He sees other advantages, too:
No churches. Wide streets. Two nearby parking garages. Danny’s Pub and Pazzo Pazzo already serve alcohol just a few doors down.
“This town does give liquor licenses, so you ought to be able to put them somewhere. I can’t think of a less offensive space,” said William, who has asked to appear before the town council on May 28.
He seeks permission to transfer a liquor license he bought from the former Mediterranean Muse Restaurant on South Street.
Last year, the license was earmarked for Futbol-Landia, a Latino sports bar proposed for Early Street.
After contentious hearings, the council approved that Walsh plan. But the project fell through when the landlady backed out, William said at the time.
The council nixed a proposal last year by William’s son Billy to build a bowling alley/bar next to Tashmoo on DeHart Street. But Billy’s brother Dave got conditional permission in April to extend Tashmoo’s liquor license to a restaurant he intends to erect on that same space.
Area residents spoke against all three of those proposals, contending they would exacerbate rowdy behavior, parking problems and other issues they blame on downtown bars.
William, who is an attorney, said he would contribute towards street cleanups and extra police patrols if other bars also did the same. Town officials have been studying how to impose such fees since last year.
PAGING DR. WALSH
At Veronica’s Speedwell–both names refer to flower species–William envisions two floors, each with a bar, along with a storage basement. The upstairs could be rented for private parties. No dance area is proposed; live music might be booked occasionally, he said. Between 25 and 30 employees would be hired, he estimated.
William said he plans to rent 34B and 36 Speedwell. The bar and grill could open for business by early fall if approvals go smoothly, he said.
A public posting lists William as the sole partner in Uncle Baxter LLC, the applicant for the license transfer. For the Futbol-Landia proposal he worked with his son Mike. This time, he plans to tap Brian Walsh, the eldest of his six sons, to manage Veronica’s Speedwell.
Brian, 38, graduated from Harvard, studied business and medicine at the University of Missouri, and is an emergency room physician at Morristown Medical Center, his father said. Brian also is a top runner, finishing third in each of the last two Superhero Half Marathons.
William said he explored opening bars in Red Bank and Montclair, but decided he liked Morristown’s future. He and his family have invested a lot of time and money learning the lay of the land; he is hoping the experience finally results in a routine approval.
“We think we know a lot more than we did six or seven years ago,” he said.
I think it means, renovate another vacant spot in town and bring in new jobs for residents. I wish them luck and as a resident, appreciate there investment into Morristown. This could be a nice attraction for that section of Morristown. I doubt if the Hyatt’s beer club is going to be the spark that side of town needs after the theater leaves.
When they say it will be similar to Tashmoo, does that mean it will have super slow service and a disgruntled staff that always seems to be angry at the patrons for ordering drinks and food?