Zoners Allow Phoenicia to Expand

After less than two months in business, Phoenicia wants to make room for even more customers.

So the owner of went before Easton's Zoning Hearing Board Monday night, seeking permission to expand its seating capacity.

More specifically, what Dani Aslan wanted was a parking variance, since -- like -- Phoenicia doesn't have its own parking.

The board agreed, giving Aslan the go-ahead to add 54 seats to the 40-seat set up.

"We're very happy to be in the city and very excited, and we just want to expand the seats," Aslan told the board. The space is there already, and just needs to be filled.

"Just visually, it doesn't look right at all," he said.

Also Monday, the zoners approved a variance for the dog-themed business which on Northampton Street, but closed after seven months.

The new store -- at 40 N. 3rd St. -- will be smaller, said owner Jane Nordell, with two third of the space devoted to making/packaging the company's homemade dog treats.

"I had way too much sqaure footage," Nordell told the board. My overheard was huge. I probably sold the same 15 things."

Finally, the board granted a variance for Monica Wolinsky, who wants to open a barbershop in her College Hill neighborhood.

Wolinsky currently owns a similar business in Princeton, but wants to set up shop here.

"The commute to Princeton's killing me," Wolinsky told the board.

She said her shop -- at 434 Cattell St. -- will have three stations, mostly likely just manned by her at first. Attorney Robert Patterson, who owns the building, noted that there aren't many places in the neighborhood for male looking for a barber.