Liquor Stores, Breweries Subject Of Moorestown Webinar July 1

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown officials are hosting a webinar next week to discuss the new rules surrounding the sale of liquor in the township.

Mayor Nicole Gillespie and township officials will host and record a webinar July 1 at 7 p.m. to discuss and further explain new business opportunities for retail liquor distribution and microbreweries, the township announced.

Details will include location criteria for both distribution licenses and microbreweries, and information required for the historical bid method for any interested investors or members of the community.

Those interested in participating in the webinar should register in advance at
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_inapqsqWTMyRUodaYISiWQ

The webinar follows actions taken this year to allow the wider sale of alcohol and the opening of mircrobreweries in Moorestown.

After years of not permitting the recreational sale of alcohol in the township, Moorestown voters approved the sale of liquor licenses in certain areas by referendum in 2011. Read more here: 'Yes' Wins: Moorestown Liquor Referendum Passes

After a judge ruled during a subsequent court case that the township couldn't limit the use of those licenses to the mall, the township passed legislation to permit the wider sale of alcohol in the township, but still reserved to certain appropriate areas. Read more here: Retail Liquor Licenses Get Final Approval In Moorestown

Approved locations include commercial districts such as the Moorestown Mall, the Kmart Shopping Center, Moorestown Commons, and the business park. Any liquor store built in Moorestown would have to be 200 feet from a home or a school, but they are not permitted in the commercial districts near Main Street and in the Lenola Town Center on Camden Avenue. Read more here: Liquor Stores, Microbreweries Under Discussion For Moorestown

At its June 14 meeting, Moorestown Council authorized the sale of two new retail distribution liquor licenses using the historical bid method. Read more here: 2 Retail Liquor Licenses To Be Sold In Moorestown

The township previously decided it would use the "historical method" to determine which applicants will receive the licenses. This method gives the town greater control over whom it awards the licenses to. Read more here: Microbreweries Get Final Approval To Come To Moorestown

Township Manager Tom Merchel had asked them to decide between this and the "traditional method," in which the highest bidder gets the job. Read more here: Breweries May Be Coming To Moorestown; Liquor Licenses To Be Sold

Microbreweries are considered "light manufacturing." Proponents say these businesses will help restaurants because breweries don't serve food, but they do allow visitors to bring in food from other establishments.

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 will instead do that at the township's liquor stores.

"As Moorestown puts the days of lockdown behind it, these changes are described as a win-win for residents and small business alike," township officials said. "Moorestown offers significant untapped potential for parties interested in acquiring one of the licenses or setting up shop as a microbrewer."