Proprietor of Blue Point Grill and Nassau Street Seafood to open 144-seat restaurant in Witherspoon House.
By: Jennifer Potash
The new restaurant in Witherspoon House, under construction as part of the downtown redevelopment project, will be run by Jack Morrison, proprietor of the Blue Point Grill and Nassau Street Seafood market.
Mr. Morrison met with Princeton Regional Health Department staff in June for a site plan review of the 144-seat restaurant. He could not be reached for comment this week.
Robert Powell, principal of Nassau HKT Urban Design Associations, the developer of the project, confirmed Wedneday that Mr. Morrison will run the yet-unnamed restaurant.
Nassau HKT Associates and Princeton Borough partnered to redevelop two municipal parking lots with the 500-space Spring Street Garage, two mixed-use buildings and public open space. The restaurant will be in the ground floor of the five-story Witherspoon House, adjacent to the new Princeton Public Library and planned plaza. The upper floors of the building will have apartments.
"It is true we are working on a restaurant with Jack," Mr. Powell said. "I think it going to be very exciting."
Mr. Morrison was a natural choice, given his knowledge of Princeton and experience running a successful and high-quality restaurant on Nassau Street, Mr. Powell said.
While not ready to release all the details on the new venture, Mr. Powell said the mid-priced restaurant will be more than just fish and chips.
In addition to seafood, there will be soup, chops and salads, he said.
Family-oriented fare would be highlighted for the lunch menus, Mr. Powell said.
The design plans have not yet been finalized but some outdoor seating is one possibility for the new restaurant, which will front on the new plaza.
Speculation that Mr. Morrison would open the restaurant ran high among downtown merchants and other observers of the project, since he purchased the liquor license from the owners of the defunct Les Copains restaurant on Witherspoon Street earlier this year.
Mr. Powell said the new restaurant would have a limited wine bar service.