A former Downtown Newark office building that was recently converted into apartments might soon contain a restaurant with a liquor license.
The Kislak Building, located at 579 Broad Street at the corner of Central Avenue, is the subject of a recent application involving the transfer of a plenary retail consumption liquor license. The building, which is notable because of its “Kislak” signage, was painted pink as part of the redevelopment by New Orleans-based Redmellon Restoration and Development into more than 40 apartments. Rentals start at $2,348 per month.
A company called 579 Broad Restaurant Operator, LLC applied to acquire the liquor license that was previously used by ASM Enterprises on Sanford Avenue in the West Ward’s Vailsburg neighborhood, according to a legal notice. While it is not yet clear what the liquor license would be used for at the Kislak Building, it is known that 579 Broad Restaurant Operator, LLC lists that it is doing business as “Tapwell Caf” [sic], a possible reference to a Tapwell Cafe. The website for the building states that a bistro and coffee cafe is coming soon to the development.
Neal Morris, the principal and founder of Redmellon, is listed as being associated with 579 Broad Restaurant Operator, LLC, while Prudential also apparently has a role. Jersey Digs reached out to Morris last month but our request for comment has not yet been returned.
Update (3/9/2020): Following the publication of this story, Chris Westcott of Inglese Architecture + Engineering contacted Jersey Digs stating that instead of the structure being painted pink, “the redevelopment for the Kislak Building included the restoration of the porcelain panels to their original historic colors, which includes the salmon and grey panels currently on view.”
