Lacey Liquors Sues Township Over Competitor: Suit

Lacey Liquors and Forked River Wine & Sprits might need to say "cheers" in court. Lacey Liquors has sued Lacey Township Committee and state licensing officials about the approval of Forked River Wine & Spirits' upcoming relocation, according to state court records.

Lanoka Farms, Inc., which owns Lacey Liquors, accused Forked River Wine & Spirits of misusing their liquor license, according to the complaint they filed Dec. 18. The store, set to open across the street from Lacey Mall on Route 9 on Feb. 1, received approval for their liquor-license transfer in July, the complaint says.

Results from this lawsuit may revolve around at technicality. Attorney Samuel Reale, Jr., who represents Lacey Liquors, says Forked River Wine & Spirits will be using a Plenary Retail Consumption License — a permit for businesses such as bars to sell liquor consumed within their walls — when they need a Plenary Retail Distribution License, which allows merchants to sell alcohol to customers that they drink off company property.

The liquor store filed a complaint Dec. 18 for action in lieu of prerogative writs, a New Jersey law that allowed parties to request a judge review actions from municipal agencies. Reale said the store is not seeking damages.

The complaint names several defendants, including the Lacey Township Committee, Lacey Zoning Board of Adjustment, Lacey construction official Douglass Donohue and Lacey zoning officer Loretta Rule. An attorney who typically represents Lacey Township did not return request for comment in time for publication.

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