A rendering of the upgraded shopping center.
Credit: Amanda Kuehnle/NewtownPANow.com
Plans for a farm-to-table restaurant and wine bar in a refreshed Newtown Township shopping center are moving forward.
The township Board of Supervisors approved both conditional use for the Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar that is planned for the Brixmor Property Group-owned Village of Newtown shopping area on South Eagle Road and the transfer of a liquor license the eatery and wine bar plans to use.
Attorney Ed Murphy, who spoke on behalf of Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar, said the plans had altered to shrink the amount of seats to 261 from over 300 and better designed parking around the new business.
The eatery would operate until 10 p.m. with the exception of Friday and Saturday nights when the business would close at midnight. There is no drive-thru planned for the 6,255 square-foot restaurant.
A representative from Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar said the restaurant and bar will have an outdoor seating area and work with local farms.
The addition of the eatery and wine bar will coincide with renovation of the shopping center and the addition of about 30 parking spaces.
The developers behind the shopping center renovation spoke with members of the Board of Supervisors about intersection and traffic improvements. Both sides spoke of the issues and how to improve the traffic situation.
Restaurateur Dave Magrogan opened the first Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar in Glen Mills in 2010. In the time since, the eatery has opened four other locations in the Philadelphia and a spot in Harrisburg.
“Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar offers an under 500 calorie seasonally changing, local farm to table menu, 50+ wines by the glass, seasonal cocktails and local beer. Every three months Harvest Seasonal Grill and Wine Bar changes the menu to reflect the change of the seasons,” according to the company’s website.
Brixmor Property Group is planning to renovate the Village of Newtown shopping center anchored by the well-known McCaffrey’s Food Market and Pier One Imports. The developers of the project hope their plans will increase usage of an underutilized shopping center and create a unique walkability to the center, further connecting customers to shops, activities, and outdoor dining, and encouraging them to park their car in one location and stay throughout the day.
