Restaurant Approved at Former Theater

A new restaurant is set to open in Paramus after being approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment on Thursday.

Miller's Ale House, a Florida-based restaurant chain, plans to open a location at the former movie theater on Route 4.

The chain has more than 50 locations across the country, and each restaurant is decorated in a sports and nautical theme, said Ray Holden, president and chief operating officer for Miller's. Like the other locations, the Paramus restaurant will have several TVs and a casual feel, he said.

Holden said the restaurant's business hours would be from 11 a.m. until about 2 a.m. every day except Sunday, when doors will close at midnight. The restaurant will share the building with a 24-Hour Fitness club.

The application for the fitness club , but developer Vornado Realty Trust appeared before the Zoning Board again because the measurements it initially made at the former Ciniplex Odeon turned out to be inaccurate after the inside of the building was cleared. The differences were minor, however, and the Board approved the application 5-0.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment also approved a 2,043 square-foot addition to REI, which . Engineer Alexander Lapatka said the expansion would give the building a more regular square shape.

The Board also approved 167 temporary parking spaces near the REI building, in the area where two other buildings are planned. Both changes were approved 5-0, with the condition that Vornado either start construction on the two buildings or permanent parking by January 2014.

"I appreciate your asking for temporary parking, especially with the holidays approaching, so I would move for approval," Board member Pat O'Brien said.