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PLANNERS OK STORE CONVERSION TO EATERY

pazzo-renderingA rendering of the proposed restaurant’s facade. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi)

by DUSTIN RACIOPPI

Planning Board Chairman John Cash said little at Monday night’s planning meeting, but spoke the words Leonardo DiMaria most wanted to hear: “Welcome to Red Bank.”

Following a brief overview from DiMaria’s attorney concerning plans to open a coal-fired pizzeria at 141 West Front Street, the board quickly gave approval to a change-of-use request for about 4,900 square feet of empty retail space at Red Bank Corporate Plaza to primary food with outside dining.

“We’re pretty much ready to go,” DiMaria, who is one of three owners of Pazzo’s Coal Fired Oven Restaurant, said afterward.

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NEARLY EMPTY COMPLEX MAY GET RESTAURANT

rb-corp-plaza Except for limited office use, Red Bank Corporate Plaza has been empty since completion two years ago.

By Dustin Racioppi

Red Bank’s comeback from the depths of the economic downturn may turn out to be based on an unexpected foundation: pizza.

In recent months, one large pizza restaurant has opened, a second oneĀ  has committed to the downtown, and a third, smaller one is rumored to be coming.

Now, a fourth pizzeria appears about to take over a huge retail space in a white-elephant office, retail and parking complex on West Front Street. And this one could have a coveted liquor license.

Leonardo DiMaria, a co-owner a place to be called Pazzo’s Coal Fired Oven Restaurant, tells redbankgreen a sublease on some 4,900 square feet of space at Red Bank Corporate Plaza is “pretty much done. We should be signing the lease Tuesday or Wednesday.”

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