Zoners green light redo of Downtown Cafe

BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer

RED BANK - The Downtown Cafe had its final show last Saturday before it closed for renovations, which are expected to take five months.

DanLou Properties, owner of the West Front Street property, was granted approval for the renovation project in January by the borough Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The zoners' decision didn't come with a resolution of approval due to discrepancies over the occupancy rate, which determines the parking requirements for the site.

The resolution of approval was officially granted at the May 4 meeting of the board.

The proposed project includes expanding the lower floors of the existing Downtown Cafe and leaving the third floor vacant. This would mean adding 1,229 square feet and removing 772 square feet, for a net gain of 457 square feet.

The project also includes expanding into the adjacent building at 10 W. Front St., which is also owned by the applicant.

That building was formerly used for retail and office space, but currently is vacant.

According to a letter from Borough Engineer Richard Kosenski to the Borough Planning and Zoning Office, the applicant will have to pay $21,000 into the borough's Municipal Parking Utility Improvement Fund for a parking deficiency of 18 spaces.

The pre-existing parking deficiency at the Downtown Cafe is 43 spaces, but DanLou, as the new owner, is not obligated to pay into the municipal fund for pre-existing deficiencies, according to former borough engineer George Whalen.

The total deficiency is calculated at 61 spaces, but DanLou will only be responsible for the additional 18-space shortfall resulting from the expansion.

According to the letter, the existing Downtown Cafe has an occupancy limit of 128 people, and requires 43 parking spaces, which creates a 43-space parking deficiency.

Occupancy for the building at 8 W. Front St., after the renovations, is estimated at 56 people, which adds an additional parking requirement of 18 spaces.

"No parking is provided on site," the letter states, "therefore, the proposed use increases the parking deficiency by 18 spaces."

The proposed project involves interior and exterior renovations, adding rest rooms compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, expanding the kitchen, and using the basement of 10 W. Front for storage and some food preparation, which is how the basement of the current Downtown Cafe is used.

DanLou Properties' partner Daniel Lynch said this week that the new Downtown will be a larger version of its current self.

"My business partner, Matt Wagman, and I want to keep everything about the Downtown that has made it a success," Lynch said. "We plan to continue live music seven days a week. The menu is going to be completely new, concentrating on light fare with price points in the $7-$14 range. We will keep the sushi, but will expand the menu and add take-out as well as delivery.

"The second floor will be home to some of the best bands at the Jersey Shore with additional floor space and bathrooms that actually work," he added.

Wagman said previously that the plan for the new, expanded space is for a more casual, family-friendly restaurant environment than Red, located on Broad Street and also owned and operated by DanLou, which is more of a lounge.

Lynch said that much of the staff will be moved to one of the other businesses owned by DanLou during the construction, so that many of the faces will remain the same when the cafe reopens.

"What will be different is the first floor-[it] will have expanded seating," he said, "and operational front windows that will open to West Front Street. The bar will be circular, encompassing the middle of both 8 and 10 W. Front St. The Downtown will be serving lunch and dinner as well as a Jazz Brunch on the weekends.

DanLou Properties purchased the Downtown Cafe property in November 2004 and purchased 10 W. Front St. in January 2005.