Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
A local deli’s distinctive neon signage will soon be removed following a decision by the Newtown Township Zoning Hearing Board on Thursday evening.
The Borscht Belt Delicatessen, a spot known for its New York-style Jewish delicacies, faced a setback when its appeal to keep a neon sign, which officials claimed violates local ordinances, was denied.
The controversy over the sign began last year after the deli in the Village at Newtown South shopping center installed the neon sign without obtaining the necessary approvals from township authorities.
The decision to challenge the township’s ruling put the dispute between the deli’s owners, Nick Liberato and Mike Dalewitz, and local officials into the spotlight.
In response to the board’s decision, the deli’s ownership took to social media to express their disappointment but also to thank their patrons for their support.
“Well here it is folks, unfortunately not what we hoped for but a sincere thankfulness and gratitude for all our friends that have supported our business during these tumultuous times and those who came out on a cold Thursday with signs and voices,” a post by the owners of The Borscht Belt Delicatessen said.
The Borscht Belt Delicatessen, which originally opened in Stockton, New Jersey, in June 2021, relocated to Newtown Township in the spring of 2023.
The deli has continued to expand, opening a second location at St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown Township.
