The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors on Wednesday granted the Capital Grille the approval it needs to open an upscale steakhouse and restaurant in the Village at Newtown shopping center.
In a 3-2 vote, the board gave the Capital Grille permission to convert the former Pier One Imports store into an 8,500-square-foot, 236-seat high-end restaurant.
In addition, the supervisors voted 3-2 to approve the inter-muncipal transfer of a liquor license from Warrington to Newtown for the Capital Grille.
"Capital Grille is a feather in our cap," said Supervisor Elen Snyder. "No, I'm not fond of more liquor licenses, but with the Capital Grille comes a liquor license. There's no doubt about it. I see it as a positive for our township and something special."
[Liquor license attorney Mark Kozar] noted that alcohol service at a restaurant like the Capital Grille is more of a complementary offering and would be secondary to its food offerings.
"Alcohol is a very minor and insignificant component of this use," added [attorney Joe] Blackburn. "Nobody is going there to spend $20 a drink to hang out at the bar."
Supervisor John Mack, who voted against the transfer and the conditional use, disagreed with Blackburn's use of the word 'insignificant' to describe the offerings at the Capital Grille. "If it's so insignificant, maybe you should be able to do good business without a liquor license," he said.
Mack raised similar concerns over the number of liquor licenses being transferred into the township during the board's denial of the Blue Point Grill transfer, citing "health and welfare" concerns of the community.
Also voting against the transfer and the conditional use was supervisor Kyle Davis, who has consistently voted against new uses in the shopping center given the parking and traffic issues that currently exist.
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