Good Karma Café has proposed expanding into the East Front Street space vacated earlier this year Creative Kitchens, which relocated to Mechanic Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s rapidly growing restaurant scene once again dominates the attention of the borough planning board Monday night.
That’s when a vegan restaurant expansion, a beer garden addition to another restaurant, and the possible creation of a new one occupy a busy agenda.
The new owners of 39 East Front Street propose to redo the facade, with a restaurant or shops on the ground floor. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
On the docket are:
• 39 East Front Street, the downtown’s fugliest building, where a new owner proposes to convert the first floor “for either restaurant, retail or office use.” The stucco-fronted building was previously the home of Red Bank Radiology, whose clients accessed the business from a rear entrance on Riverview Plaza. Variances for a parking shortfall and other deficiencies are needed. [UPDATE: The hearing on this plan has been postponed and is now expected to be held January 18.]
• Tiny — just 912 square feet — Good Karma Café, just a few doors west, is hoping to triple in size with an expansion into the vacant space at 19 East Front. This one also needs parking and other variances.
• Birravino, on Riverside Avenue, where owner Victor Rallo has proposed creating a 1,500-square-foot beer garden. Variances for setbacks, parking other other deficiencies needed.
Here’s the agenda. The board meets at 7 p.m. at borough hall, 90 Monmouth Street.
