Liquor Stores, Microbreweries Under Discussion For Moorestown

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown may soon be home to both liquor stores and craft breweries, and the township’s governing body is getting both support and some pushback from some residents who want to see Moorestown remain a dry town.

“Count me as a dissenter,” resident Roger Boyell said during Monday night’s council meeting. “I don’t agree with offering alcohol to build commerce. Increasing alcohol sales will lead to the deterioration of the town and detract from our friendliness as a town.”

Boyell made his comments after Moorestown Council introduced a proposal to issue and regulate plenary retail licenses. It allows the township to issue two or three retail liquor licenses, based on the outcome of the 2020 Census.

This proposal follows a lawsuit filed about 10 years ago, challenging the designation of the Moorestown Mall as the only place in town permitted to sell alcohol. A judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff, forcing Moorestown’s hand in the matter. Read more here: 10 Years After Historic Vote, Moorestown May See Liquor Stores

Any liquor store built in Moorestown would have to be 200 feet from a home or a school. The public hearing and final vote on this proposal will take place at the April 12 meeting.

Separately, Township Council discussed the possibility of bringing microbreweries, distilleries, wineries and other such outlets to the township. This discussion happened during the workshop portion of the meeting, with no official action being taken.

While a liquor store sells alcohol directly to the public as a retail business, microbreweries are considered light manufacturing. In many cases, those who visit breweries take a tour to see how the alcohol is made, they don’t sell alcohol that isn’t made on site. They are not permitted to serve food, but customers are allowed to bring in food from other restaurants, Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie said.

Council members believe the addition of microbreweries will help restaurants that have struggled through the coronavirus pandemic, particularly with the indoor dining capacity increasing to 50 percent. Read more here: Moorestown Mayor Hopes Indoor Dining Increase Helps Businesses

Councilman Dave Zipin said liquor stores would do the same thing, and doesn’t want residents to conflate the two issues.

“No one will leave a liquor store intoxicated, but they can pick up something on their way to a BYO restaurant,” Zipin said, adding he believes Main Street should be included as a possible site for liquor stores. “I don’t think a large liquor store would work on Main Street, but the township would support high-end businesses, like a small store that offers fine bourbon and scotches. It would support a store that has a smaller collection of high-end alcohol.”

They also don’t share Boyell’s view that it would lead to the deterioration of the township.

“There’s no evidence that the town would deteriorate,” Councilman Jeff Van Dyken said. “Haddonfield’s brewery has been a boon to their downtown.”

Haddonfield is also a dry town with many “BYOB” restaurants. Van Dyken says Moorestown can be like that, and some residents who attended the meeting agreed.

“I lived in Haddonfield for 20 years,” said Michael Miller, a Moorestown resident who was impressed with a recent five-day festival King’s Road Brewing sponsored in his former hometown. “It was incredible to see that level of activity that had not been seen before. The downtown businesses have flourished. Haddonfield has pride in its downtown, and it’s still a dry town.”

“I didn’t think Moorestown supported the idea, but when I spoke to the residents, I found out that the residents did,” said former Moorestown Business Association President Steve Pazienza, who has visited mircrobreweries in other towns and surveyed the township’s residents. “It’s a gathering place, and people want that.”

He said that towns with multiple breweries are more likely to attract interest. In 2018, the planning board recommended microbreweries be permitted in the township, and suggested North Church Street, Lenola Road, the mall, East Gate Square Shopping Center and Moorestown Commons as among the possible places in which they could succeed.

Councilman Quinton Law said he has also heard support for them in the community, and Township Manager Tom Merchel said they could help increase weekend and possibly weekday traffic in the township.