BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — The long-awaited renovation and expansion of ShopRite on Marshall Hill Road may have a devastating effect on a couple of neighboring businesses right there in the plaza.
Angel Morales, the owner of Frank’s Pizza, said ShopRite intends to expand into the space he has leased for the past 15 years. Inserra, which owns the ShopRite, offered him the space at the end of the building, space that once was home to a dollar store but has sat vacant for years. They also offered financial help with moving. This new space would be larger than his current space. But the offer came in at $1 more than the current $23 per square foot he pays. So he made a counter offer through his attorney which was turned down.
So, he said, he accepted Inserra’s original offer in writing. That was weeks ago. Neither he nor his attorney have heard back from the company. With just two and a half months left on the lease — it’s up on Feb. 28, 2017 — Morales is very concerned about the future of the family business he built here in West Milford over the past decade and a half.
Community supportMatthew Guy has worked for Morales at Frank’s for nearly five years. He came to speak at the township council meeting Wednesday night. Guy told the council that Frank’s is a restaurant where the entire community is welcome.
“The Girl Scouts come to sell cookies, flyers are posted on our windows to help the community,” said Guy, who lives in Warwick, N.Y. He described outings from local group homes with residents coming to Frank’s. “All human beings are welcome with no judgement.”
Guy said people go out of their way to come to Frank’s.
“We are the only pizza place in town that doesn’t deliver. The community comes to us.”
Guy presented the council with 1,300 signatures collected at Frank’s in just five days in support of keeping it in the ShopRite plaza on Marshall Hill Road.
“We are pleading for your help and support,” he told the council. “They own the building but the community wants ShopRite and Frank’s Pizza.”
A private matterThe local government, though, has no say in private leases, said township attorney Fred Semrau.
“It’s a private matter,” said Semrau. “The governing body cannot interfere.”
“A lot of us are saddened by that (if Frank’s must move),” said Mayor Bettina Bieri. “Many of us go there.”
She told Guy that maybe with the community support of the petition, ShopRite may reconsider.
Online discussionThis is a hot topic on the West Milford Moms Facebook page. There is much support for Frank’s, even suggestions for other locations should the lease not be renewed, including the old Huntsman Restaurant on Macopin Road. But there is also support for ShopRite and the renovation and expansion, something the residents have wanted for decades.
A family businessMorales was at the council meeting on Wednesday but did not speak publicly. He and his wife, Karina, and their three children moved to West Milford last year from Hackettstown after having the business for nearly 14 years. In addition to himself and his wife, his brother Nelson also works at Frank’s and his kids will too. He has a staff of 15. Guy said they are busy “all the time.”
What does Morales hope comes out of this? “That the council can mention something to ShopRite and they will consider keeping Frank’s.”
Morales said he has looked around for new space, if that becomes necessary. He hasn’t found anything that matches the size of what he currently has.
What’s nextA call to Lawrence Inserra, chairman and chief executive officer of Inserra Supermarkets, was not returned at press time Thursday.
In the meantime, Guy is hoping that the signatures will have an impact on Inserra.
“I’m pleading for your help and support.”
What are your thoughts about ShopRite and Frank’s Pizza? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and start the conversation.