A growing chain of sports bars that currently has close to two dozen locations in California is continuing to expand along the East Coast. Now, Yard House is planning to open its second restaurant and bar in New Jersey.
A legal notice shows that a 10,884-square-foot location is in the works for the Willowbrook Mall off of Routes 23, 46, and 80 in Wayne. This would be the first Yard House in North Jersey and would include 364 seats and a patio. A legal notice released late last month shows that the bar is expected to be situated on the first floor of the mall below the Dave & Buster’s location that opened last year. This part of Willowbrook used to contain a Sears location, but the department store downsized in 2017.
The Wayne Planning Board is expected to hear the proposal by Yard House USA, Inc. during its meeting today, Monday, February 11, at 7:30 p.m. The company is seeking Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval with exceptions and variances.
The brand is owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, which also operates chains like Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille. Currently, the only Garden State location is in Moorestown though there are also nearby outposts in Westchester County and Rockland County, New York.
