Updated on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
For the second time, council approved amending the consumption and sales of alcohol in Moorestown on Monday, Sept. 24.
During the last council meeting, council came up with a solution after Superior Court Judge Roger Bookbinder ruled that the second referendum on the voter’s ballad last year was considered illegal.
Township manager Scott Carew and solicitor Thomas Coleman came up with tow options for the council. Council could either choose to limit the sales in the SRC zone (Option A) or limit it to the south side of Route 38 where the Moorestown Mall and East Gate are located.
Council unanimously voted for Option B.
According to Mayor John Button, the council changed the ordinance to reflect Bookbinders ruling along with a resolution that would closely reflect the resident’s vote.
East Gate has applied for a $1 million liquor license, but the application process is still underway, Button said.
Since council’s first approval on Monday, Sept. 10, the Moorestown Mall might have a new resident.
Marc Vetri, world-renowned chef and owner of various Italian restaurants in Philadelphia, signed a lease agreement with PREIT last week to open a restaurant in the Moorestown Mall.
PREIT spokeswoman Judy Trias was unable to go into detail about the agreement considering council recently awarded four liquor licenses to PREIT and the agreement is not officially set in stone. However, details about the restaurant and the possibility of opening more will be announced in the near future, Trias said.
Trias was not present when Vetri signed the lease, but he showed the world his progress in the hospitality business.
Vetri tweeted his signature on the lease agreement with a brief caption saying, “Let’s see if you can figure out what this means!!!! BOOM!!!”
Vetri trained in Italy and within two years of opening his restaurant in Philadelphia, was named one of Food and Wine’s Ten Best New Chefs. A few other of Vetri’s accomplishments include the opening of four restaurants in the Philadelphia area — Vetri opened in 1998, Osteria opened in 2007, and Amis opened in 2010. The newest restaurant, Alla Spina opened its doors in February of 2012 and the opening of the New Jersey Osteria location will make five restaurants for Vetri.
Food Network’s Iron Chief viewers also caught a glimpse of Vetri’s cooking prowess in 2010 when Vetri walked away with the Iron Chef title after defeating Iron Chef Michael Symon.
The restaurant will mimic the Osteria restaurant in Philadelphia. Vetri said the Italian dishes, wine selection, and atmosphere will resemble the original location.
Vetri is looking forward to opening the restaurant in a familiar area. Between family members, coworkers and customers in New Jersey, Vetri knows the area well.
“I am just looking forward to hopefully starting a little renaissance out there,” Vetri said.
To find out more information about Vetri and his restaurants, visit www.vetrifamily.com. For more information about Osteria, visit www.osteriaphilly.com
