Politics & Government

White Castle Litigation Ongoing with Township

Township recently submitted a briefing schedule to the court

The township is still caught up in litigation with White Castle, most recently submitting a briefing schedule to the court, Planning Board Attorney Joseph Coronato said.

“There really has been no attempt to settle it,” Coronato said at Lacey’s latest Planning Board meeting.

It was announced that White Castle sued the township for the restrictions the Planning Board placed on its hours of operation in September.

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White Castle’s application was approved to be built at the intersection of Route 9 and Sunrise Boulevard but rather than being open 24-hours, as the company had sought, the Planning Board restricted the hours of operation to 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

The Planning Board previously cited a 24-hour operation as being disruptive to the community.

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Operating 24 hours, seven days a week is White Castle’s business model, Director of Restaurant Operations Thomas Bray previously said, adding that he could not speak specifically to the litigation.

“When we go into a community, we operate 24 hours,” he had said. “We want to be a part of the community. It’s a great place to be.” 

As a business in town, White Castle will bring a lot to the community including full time jobs with good benefits, charity and taxes, he previously said.

The Planning Board acted on that application based on public outcry, Deputy Mayor and Planning Board member Gary Quinn said.

Quinn would expect White Castle to return to the Planning Board in order for a settlement to be reached, as the township does not intend to rescind its decision, he said.


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