Princeton Approves Liquor Store Relocation To Nassau Street

PRINCETON, NJ — The Town Council on Monday voted to approve the liquor license transfer for Claridge Wine & Liquor. The liquor store will now move from Princeton Shopping Center to 102 Nassau Street.

The matter came into contention after Hank and Andrew Siegel, owners of Hamilton Jewelers opposed the move in a letter to the Mayor and Council. They said the presence of the liquor store in this stretch of Princeton will promote a "quick-stop" for in-and-out shopping, quick parking, idling "sometimes illegally in loading zones or double parking."

The council voted 5-1 to approve the transfer. The council held off on voting until the applicant answered questions on deliveries and trash disposal.

Mihir Patel, whose family owns Claridge Wine and Plainsboro Wine and Liquor, told Council that wine would be delivered twice a week, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The deliveries will be made at the rear of the building, and stock wheeled up from Dohm Alley to the front door.

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Beer would be delivered once a week and unloading will follow municipal guidelines and designated areas to ensure no idling and impact on local traffic.

"The location, the amount of foot traffic that would be going through Nassau Street through Witherspoon and through the University is a large portion," of why the store decided to relocate, Patel said.

In casting the lone "no" vote, Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros said her decision was all about the location and if the store was located several blocks away "it would be different."

"I wish they would stay where they are. I think there is a need fr balance where the licenses are, but I know we can't consider that," said Lambros.

The application was first brought to the council on Oct. 25, but after opposition from some neighboring business owners, the hearing was tabled to Nov. 8.

At that meeting, Municipal Attorney Trishka W. Cecil noted that according to the law, issuing authorities have the discretion whether or not to approve the transfer, but it has to do so "reasonably" and "grounded in facts." Competition to other businesses was not a valid factor to reject the application, Cecil said.

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