Bait Shop to Open Next to Deli

Trout season starts March 31, almost enough time for Ronald Worman Jr. to open his Bait & Tackle shop along the Delaware.

The first step was to get approval from the because he needed a special exception. He got the approval Monday night. The property is part of the Riverfront Conservation District.

The bait shop will sit next door to the at 1670 N. Delaware Drive. Timothy and Cynthia Belon own both buildings and operate the deli.

The zoning application requested approval to expand a non-conforming use at 1680 N. Delaware Drive.

In order to do that, Michael Shay, the zoning board solicitor, asked Worman if he considered the bait shop a natural or reasonable expansion of the property.

“The location is key,” Worman said. “There really is no better location to open a bait and tackle shop.”

Belon told the zoning board that the idea for the bait shop came from his customers’ requests.

“A lot of fishermen pull into my business [the deli],” he said. “People continually come in asking if I sell bait.”

Belon said the building just looks like there should be a bait shop there. He said he knew Worman is an avid fisherman and always dreamed of having a bait shop, so he suggested it to him. Worman said he plans to rent the building from Belon.

“I’d like to see him make a go of it,” Belon said. “It would help out each of our businesses.”

Worman told the zoning board there aren’t that many bait shops in the area.

“As a fisherman, I can tell you bait shops are really few and far between,” he said. “I’d like to support all of the other anglers with the opportunity to get them live bait and supplies, and information about our waterways.”

Belon also made a practical, economic plea.

“We’re just trying to make an honest living in these tough times,” Belon said.

Worman said he plans to be open every day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. He doesn’t have any plans to expand the building or change the setbacks. He has nine parking spaces and thinks that will be sufficient.

Board member John Pappas asked Ron Worman if he plans to rent boats. Pappas said he doesn’t think there are enough parking spots at the location to support boat rentals too. He said he wouldn’t approve the special exception if boat rentals would be permitted.

Worman said he didn’t have any plans for boat rentals, and would accept a restriction prohibiting boat rentals.

In the end, the zoning board did include the rental restriction in the motion to approve the variance.