Installation Of Tiki Bar Approved By Morristown Council

MORRISTOWN, NJ — If you can't make it to the beach this summer, why not bring the beach to you?

Members of the Morristown council weighed in on approving a pop-up tiki bar at Tashmoo Restaurant and Bar and Homestead Bar and Kitchen at a special ABC meeting on Wednesday.

The bar, which was approved by a 5-2 vote of the council to modify the liquor license Homestead shares with Tashmoo Restaurant & Bar, will be allowed to be open from May 1 to Sept. 30.

Dehart Associates LLC, the company that legally owns both businesses, must currently request approval from the council each time it wants to run the tiki bar. The establishments were able to obtain a one-day permit, but in order to alter the ordinance's requirements, they needed permission from the council acting as the ABC Board.

The two businesses came before the council asking to have the tiki bar more frequently in their shared space because it "enhances the atmosphere" of the restaurants.

While discussing the possible drawbacks of allowing the tiki bar more flexibility, council members voiced concerns about potential increases in noise, due to longer hours with an outside bar. Councilman Robert Iannaccone, in particular, pointed out that a previous zoning board resolution passed in 2016 stated that no drinking would be permitted outside of the building and front porch area.

"There was a lot of concern about noise. There have been complaints, and I got them when I had your ward. You've got a lot of people concerned. We have consistently reinforced those rules and probably the reason there are no longer any complaints is because we did protect the public when we passed that resolution in 2016," Iannaccone said.

Attorney Robert C. Williams, who represented The Homestead at the hearing, stated that the tiki bar would not affect noise levels and would actually reduce the number of people allowed on the patio because it takes up more space.

"And guess what? If it doesn't work and it increases noise, we'll get cited and if it's a problem, you'll take it off next year. I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll agree to come back in 90 days and if you have a problem with it, you can take it away from us. Give us three months to try it," Williams said.

Council President Sandi Mayer stated that a potential compromise could be allowing the tiki bar as a pop-up for a total of five Saturdays between the months of May to September.

"So already May, June and July are gone, which means you'd have two days, one in August and one in September on a Saturday because I don't think it should be a night, especially in September when kids are going to school. I don't mind having it on one Saturday a month in the summer," Mayer said.

Mayer also stated that this would work as a trial as Dehart Associates LLC, would have to come back next year to apply for the approval for 2024.

Williams then stated that the tiki bar has already been used as a pop-up six times, using the one-day permits, and not once have they received a complaint.

Councilman Stefan Armington also noted that no violations of the noise ordinance had been issued against the establishments in the last ten years.

"We've been a good member of this community, there have been no complaints," Williams said.

The resolution was approved by all council members except for Iannaccone and Tawanna Cotten.