Plans for a new Eat'n Park in Hampton moving forward

Plans to level an old Eat’n Park to make room for a new one in Hampton are moving forward.

Council held a public hearing June 10 to discuss the company’s conditional use application for the proposed restaurant at 5143 Route 8.

It went pretty quick with no council members or general public commenting on or objecting to the plan.

Township land use administrator Amanda Gold-Lukas said the planning commission recommended the conditional use application be approved, but its site plan be tabled so the company can address some storm water management issues.

“They have applied for variances for relief, but they are improving the current condition,” Gold-Lukas said.

The township’s environmental advisory council also reviewed the company’s application twice and recommended approval June 1.

Council is expected to take action on the application later this month.

The restaurant is in the highway commercial zoning district. One of the reasons a public hearing was necessary is because the proposed drive-thru/pickup window falls under conditional use.

Plans are being developed by engineering firm Red Swing Group.

Project manager Sean Naylor said the current restaurant is a little more than 7,000 square feet and has been there for about 40 years. The new building will be about 6,780 square feet and slightly further away from neighboring Quality Inn & Suites.

“We’re excited about our future there,” Patrick Auth, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group director of corporate real estate, said following the hearing. “We feel like this will allow us to build a restaurant that’s up to our company standards. The current one’s a little tired.”

Auth said the timeline for the project is “fluid” and could be impacted by the covid-19 pandemic. Demolition was tentatively scheduled for next year with construction to begin sometime in 2022.

“This plan existed before covid-19 and the fallout,” Auth said. “We had always had a fluid timeline. It just happens that the property owner from whom we’re acquiring some land is willing to close on the transaction.”

Auth could not specify how much land was being acquired for the project.

He said current Hampton location employees would be offered temporary positions at other locations when the project gets under way and would be welcomed back when the new restaurant’s ready to open.

“I think you’ll see a lot of the same service and hospitality that you’re accustomed to in refreshed surroundings with more modern amenities,” Auth said. “It’s a great community, and we’re excited about bringing a refreshed restaurant to a great community.”

A resident who identified himself as Dave P. and living next to the restaurant offered his support for the project.

“It’s a good move,” he said. “It’s time for a renovation.”