Iron Bar Owner Seeks Expansion

Some metals expand more than others when in contact with heat and cold. The owners of , however, hope the town won't be cold to them and allow their less-than-one-year-old business–specifically its liquor license–the opportunity to expand into the space .

James Cavanaugh, owner of Iron Bar, seeks to extend its liquor license to a new establishment two doors down, which would become a Mexican restaurant. Cavanaugh, of Chester Township, also owns that business space.

Iron Bar's current space has a maximum allowable capacity for 800 people–200 on the main floor and 600 in the basement, which is expected to be opened this fall. But, though it's a new concept and not an expansion of Iron Bar, at least one resident has already expressed her displeasure with the idea. "I truly hope we do not get into a contest that this is a not a new location," 40 Park resident Christine Conti-Collins said. "You have an obligation to do what you promised the people."

That promise, she noted, stemmed from .

"I expect, not I hope, you to comply with the language you included," she said. That language, Conti-Collins read at Tuesday's council meeting, noted that denial had been in the "best interest," due to issues such as traffic and parking congestion, noise and public nuisance, including public urination.

Whatever obligation the Town Council–which acts as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission in Morristown–has, it will have to wait, as the application filed on Aug. 8 has not yet been completed.

Town Attorney Vij Pawar said Robert Williams, the attorney representing Cavanaugh and Iron Bar, was expected to submit notice of the proposal to area residents and to the Daily Record by Aug. 16 and 23, respectively.

A tentative ABC hearing date of Oct. 24 was set at the conclusion of the discussion Tuesday.

Correction: A previous version of the story indicated the proposal was an extension of Iron Bar, not a new restaurant using the same liquor license.