Breweries May Be Coming To Moorestown; Liquor Licenses To Be Sold

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown Council took the first steps Monday night on an alcohol-related proposal it hopes will help struggling restaurants by bringing more business to the township.

On Monday, night, Township Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance on introduction to permit breweries, distilleries and winery salerooms in Moorestown.

“This is long overdue,” resident Mark Hines said. “The retail environment is immensely challenged, and there are a lot of empty storefronts. There are microbreweries in virtually all the surrounding communities, and they’ve been embraced.”

He pointed to breweries in Haddonfield and Collingswood, which have long been “dry towns” like Moorestown. Haddonfield is home to Kings Road Brewing Company, and Devil’s Creek Brewery is set up in Collingswood.

They are set up in an area where there are two breweries in neighboring Haddon Township and one in Haddon Heights, helping make the area a destination for those interested in visiting microbreweries.

Moorestown could be in a similar situation, with breweries in nearby Mount Laurel, Maple Shade, Cherry Hill and Pennsauken.

Breweries are different from liquor stores, in as much as breweries are considered “light manufacturing.”

Visitors to these establishments take an educational tour to see the brewing process, and the breweries only sell what they make on the site. Shoppers aren’t going to a brewery to get a 6-pack of their favorite beer, for example.

They also don’t allow food, which proponents say would help nearby restaurants who are struggling financially amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The proposal was introduced with a 5-0 vote, and the public hearing and final vote will take place May 10.

The proposed amendments to the zoning regulations comes two weeks after Township Council gave final approval to a proposal to allow liquor stores in the township. Read more here: Retail Liquor Licenses Get Final Approval In Moorestown

On Monday night, Township Manager Tom Merchel said the township would be going out to bid on the township’s two liquor licenses soon.

The township has to consider whether to go out to bid using the “historical method,” which gives the town greater control over who it awards the licenses to; or the “traditional method,” in which the highest bidder gets the job.

In the “historical method,” bidders present their plans along with their bid and the township can make their decisions based on what the proposal is, as well as bid. It is more detailed than the “traditional method,” which seems to be the prevailing way townships award jobs.

Councilman Dave Zipin cautioned that once the license is awarded, it is transferable, so someone could bid on a license, and then sell it for more than they paid for it and the township would have no ability to stop them.

No decision was made on the licenses, and the discussion will continue at upcoming meetings.