New Mexican restaurant slated to open in June in Schoolhouse Crossing
By Jessica Chermack, Staff Writer, UnionvilleTimes.com
With approval of a liquor license, the final barrier to the opening of La Tolteca in the Schoolhouse Crossing plaza has been cleared. The much-anticipated Mexican eatery is slated to open in June.
EAST MARLBOROUGH – The Township Board of Supervisors formally approved the transfer of a liquor license Monday night — but not without asking a lot of questions about how the new establishment, La Tolteca, would operate and what might happen if it should be forced to close.
The new Mexican eatery, slated to open this June, will replace Wings-To-Go and the now-closed Firehouse BBQ and was seeking to move an existing liquor license to the location. The Supervisors previously approved changed to the use of the building.
After many questions regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages, the supervisors voted and approved the liquor license transfer.
But the approval didn’t come without some quizzing of the owner of the new restaurant. Some valid points were raised during this questioning: hours of operation, hours of serving alcohol, and the possible negative effects on residential areas. Another major worry expressed by supervisors was if La Tolteca were to close, leaving the liquor license at the location, which sits between the WalMart and the Hilton Garden Inn. Supervisors express concerns that a closure could possibly lead to the opening of a bar which could serve alcohol until 2 a.m., disturbing the peace and quiet of nearby residents.
Miguel Lopez, who owns other La Tolteca outlets in West Chester and Wilmington, Del. spoke on behalf of the restaurant, saying their intent was to serve alcohol in a meal format, and they are a family-oriented restaurant. He reassured supervisors that all employees will be well trained in refusing the sale of alcohol to minors and recognizing signs of intoxication.
With the formal approval, the restaurant’s opening is targeted for the month of June. The opening of La Tolteca is highly anticipated by many in the community — based on the long standing success of the other locally-owned outlets and the growing reputation of the Lopez brothers as among the area’s top restaurateurs.
In other township news, Donna Murray, spoke to the Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library.
Murray, the library’s director, started by offering sincere thanks for the financial support of the library by the township. Murray said that the library is embracing new technologies in reading, including use of the Nook, Kindle, and Skype. Circulation continues to rise in the library, with a highly used large print section. Only five out of 700 large print items have not circulated in the past two years, which is quite remarkable, she said.
The library has undergone somewhat of a “facelift,” improving overall appearance and comfort, Murray noted Educational programs are also on the rise, bringing new faces to the library, she said. Summer camps, service groups, and tutoring are just a few programs that are offered. A very popular program is Lego Club, which has been a success…with approximately 30 children attending three to four times a month.
The future of the library includes a new location, moving forward by organizing a building committee, with fundraising to begin in earnest later this year. The library joined the Kennett Area Community Development Plan, which includes the YMCA, the Anson B. Nixon Park, and the Borough of Kennett. The new library is expected to be built on the Weinstein property, East State Street. Murray states, “…we are trying to continue to serve our public, to make sure they succeed.”
RE: With approval of a liquor license, the final barrier to the opening of La Tolteca in the Schoolhouse Crossing plaza has been cleared. The much-anticipated Mexican eatery is slated to open in June.
Any update??
It’s under construction…but changed names to Aztec Palace. No ETA on opening, but work continues and one would think only a few more weeks. I’m looking forward to it — and have already been informed by my staff that there will be a staff meeting (on me) there for dinner once it opens.