Lien Placed On Snuffy's In Scotch Plains For Unpaid Charges

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Scotch Plains has placed a lien on the well-known event hall and restaurant, Snuffy's Pantagis Renaissance, for unpaid charges associated with the redevelopment of the Route 22 property.

The mayor and council unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday night placing the lien against Snuffy Pantagis/Lidl US Operations, LLC for not paying $7,231.66 in outstanding charges, which were part of the redevelopment process formalized by Scotch Plains.

As part of the deal, the outstanding charges were to be paid to cover professional services used by the township during the creation of the redevelopment plan.

An escrow account was created to cover those costs but when that ran low it was never replenished. The township made attempts to have Snuffy's and Lidl pay the outstanding balance including sending a letter on Dec. 15 to Snuffy-Pantagis (with a copy to Stephen Hehl, Esq., attorney for Lidl US Operations, LLC) with a deadline of Dec. 31, 2020 to replenish the escrow.

With no response, the township ended up paying the bill and placed the lien on the property to recoup its costs, said Mayor Joshua Losardo.

As a result of the lien, Lidl's application filed with the Planning Board to build on the property was deemed "withdrawn" and considered null and void.

"With regards to the Planning Board application, Lidl can resubmit an application or another redeveloper can submit a plan consistent with the adopted redevelopment plan or seek amendments from the Township Council prior to submitting a plan," Project Coordinator for Redevelopment Thomas Strowe.

Under the redevelopment plan, the property can hold a grocery store and three retail establishments. If a developer wanted anything other than what is in the plan, they would have to go before the planning board to apply for a change of use.

Lidl did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

Tax Issues

Over the years much controversy has revolved the Snuffy's property. After the township and Lidl grocery store both confirmed the agreement to redevelop the property, Snuffy's claimed it was not closing in September 2019. Read More: Dispute Over Snuffy's Closing After Lidl Opening Announced

The event hall and restaurant went on to offer outdoor dining this past summer amid the COVID pandemic. However, the venue later closed in October due to COVID, according to Tapinto.net.

Most recently in November 2020, it was discovered that Snuffy Pantagis Enterprises owed the township $531,035 in back property taxes for all of 2019 three quarters of 2020, according to township tax records obtained by mycentraljersey.com.

Losardo said Snuffy's ended up paying 2019's back taxes but still owes back taxes for 2020.

Snuffy's has until this coming summer to pay back the 2020 back taxes, if not the township can place a lien on the property, Losardo said.

"Until then the town can't do much," said Losardo.

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