Not Your Average Joe’s set to open

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on June 4, 2014

Not Your Average Joe’s, a regional restaurant chain from New England to Virginia, is set to open in Chadds Ford Township on June 23.

The restaurant is moving into the space formerly occupied by Outback Steakhouse in Glen Eagle Square on Route 202.

Paving the way for the opening, Chadds Ford Township supervisors on June 4 unanimously approved the restaurant’s request for an outdoor dining area — with some conditions.

There may be no outdoor entertainment, neither live nor recorded or amplified music, the out door area must close at 10 p.m. and there can be no outdoor bar, though alcohol may be served.

Patrons using the outside area may only access it from the main dining room.

Additionally, the applicant agreed to erect a four-foot high fence around the outdoor area and a six-foot high fence separating the restaurant from the adjacent Springhill Farm community.

Several members of the community expressed strong opposition to the plan when it was presented at the Planning Commission several months ago. While there are still some who don’t want it, the strength of the sentiment has abated.

One resident thanked the applicant for the fencing that, it’s hoped, will cut down on noise and light pollution from infringing on the residential neighborhood.

There are still some complaints over noise during the renovation phase. Another resident said the sound of power saws can be heard at 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Still another said she has no problems with a restaurant itself, but the outside noise of patrons leaving or of clean up crews late at night make it uncomfortable. She can’t sit peacefully outside because of the noise.

While the outdoor area must close at 10 p.m., the main restaurant may remain open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The Chadds Ford restaurant will be the first Not Your Average Joe’s in Pennsylvania.

Other business

• Supervisors’ Chairman Keith Klaver announced the resignation of Township Manager Judy Lizza effective June 1. He said the board will look for both a temporary and a long-term solution.

• It was also announced the Tim Singer has been appointed to the Planning Commission.

• Prior to the start of the regular meeting, John Snook, senior advisor at the Brandywine Conservancy, made a presentation regarding the Brandywine Scenic Byway. A full public meeting on the byway is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., June 9 in the lecture room at the Brandywine River Museum of Art.

The byway would run up from the Delaware state line on Route 52 and Creek Road, coursing through Pennsbury, Chadds Ford. Pocopson, Kennett and East Bradford townships.

For information on the byway go here or here.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.