Seafood House Preps For Summer Opening In Newtown Township

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Beginning this summer, you won’t have to leave Newtown for a good, sit-down seafood dinner.

The family-owned Blue Point Grill is expected to open sometime in August offering an extensive selection of fresh seafood served in a fun and lively atmosphere.

Renovations are now underway at the former Corner Bakery Cafe, which is slowly and methodically being transformed into the new eatery at 3 West Road.

This week, the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors gave the Princeton-based eatery permission to expand an existing outside dining patio as part of the remodel.

Under an amended conditional use application, the seafood house owners will be expanding the number of outdoor seats from 36 to 100 with a 960-square-foot addition to the patio.

“Blue Point has always had aspirations to expand with respect to the outside seating at this location,” said land use development attorney Mike Meginniss. “There have been a number of delays with the project which have prevented Blue Point from opening on-site to date, but that has given us the opportunity to do the remainder of the fit-out in tandem with the expansion of the outdoor seating area.”

In previous remarks to the board of supervisors business owner Jack Morrison said he is seeking the expanded outdoor seating as an option for his patrons during the nicer months of the year when it’s comfortable eating outside.

“This is not an attempt to simply expand the maximum seating capacity at the restaurant,” Meginniss told the supervisors.

Meginniss also touched on parking, noting that they currently share 52 spaces with TD Bank. “The peak hours between the bank and Blue Point are compatible,” he said with the bank closing around 6 p.m. and Blue Point opening at 5 p.m.

In addition, Meginniss said employees will be required to park across the street in the parking lot of the Newtown Shopping Center.

There was an analysis done regarding peak parking at the shopping center. What that analysis depicted was that there are 539 spaces at peak in December and 387 spaces at peak demand in August. There are 939 parking spaces built out in the shopping center. And there are additional 174 spaces being held in reserve.”

Meginniss noted as part of the shopping center’s development agreement, “it is totally and fully within the township’s discretion to force the construction of additional parking spaces if the demand ever warrants such construction.”

In particular, Meginniss said 33 of those spaces are located at the bend of West Road across from the Blue Point Grill.

“We don’t believe those spaces are going to be necessary," he said. "We think there is adequate parking, but if it’s desired by the township six, nine, or 10 months after Blue Point is open the option is available.”

After hearing the presentation, the supervisors voted 4 to 1 to approve the amended conditional use application. Supervisor Kyle Davis voted against the amended application.

Blue Point Grill is known for its extensive selection of fresh seafood offerings.

Its menu is swimming with fresh seafood, including 15 different varieties of East and West Coast oysters, 25 different kinds of fish, and classics such as New England clam chowder and lump crab cakes.

“Seafood is what I do," said Morrison. "I’m 48 years in the industry and I really enjoy it. We have heard for the past 20 years, ‘You need to come to Newtown. You need to come to Newtown.’ We’ve been welcomed from the beginning and we’re really excited to be here.”