Planning Board Approves Shooting Range On Former Fuddruckers Site

WAYNE, NJ — An application for a gun range on the former Fuddruckers property was approved by the Planning Board last month.

The board approved Reloaders NJ LLC's application Aug. 25. Reloaders is based in Kinnelon, a short drive north on Route 23.

The interior of the 13,800-square-foot facility will feature 15 shooting stalls, a retail section and restrooms, along with office space. The facility will have 94 parking spaces.

Fuddruckers was on the 1.6-acre property for years until it closed in 2014. A restaurant and bar briefly opened there, but that business eventually closed as well. The building has been vacant since.

Gun ranges have become a hot-button issue in North Jersey since last year.

Gun for Hire in Woodland Park is spending $12 million to expand from 16,000 square feet to 55,000, NorthJersey.com reported.

A 24-year-old man shot himself at the range in July 2016, the report said. A Garfield man shot himself there that May.

The Ramsey Planning Board is considering an application for a 60,000-square-foot facility with 67 firing stalls, a restaurant, locker rooms and a game room.

Petitions for and against its approval have been created. The Ramsey Borough Council introduced an ordinance that would essentially block the range from coming to town by banning the use of firearms in the borough. The ordinance was tabled more than once.

Wayne Planning Board meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers at the Wayne Municipal Complex at 475 Valley Road.

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