Palmer Business Owner Seeks Liquor License Approval for Restaurant

The owner of a Palmer Township strip mall wants to open a restaurant on the property and is looking for the township’s approval.

Steve Selvaggio owns the Rosemont Village Shopping Center on William Penn Highway and is looking to open a restaurant in one of the lots.

A tenant has not been secured but it will likely be turned into a small pizza shop that would be allowed to serve beer and wine, according to attorney Steve Margle. The restaurant would be at 3128 William Penn Highway, which is currently leased by Cyber Dome LLC.

“The current tenant is on a month-to-month lease and several unnamed possible tenants have expressed interest if the transfer is obtained to operate a restaurant and wine sales, possibly,” said Margle.

But in order to begin the process, Selvaggio needs an inter-municipal liquor license transfer.

The license was originally obtained in Fountain Hill and was transferred in 2005 to the Hotel Bethlehem. Selvaggio has now obtained the license from the city of Bethlehem but needs approval from Palmer Township in order to transfer the license.

“A hearing in January was held to allow it [the license] to continue to be held in safekeeping before an administrative judge with the state [Liquor Control Board]," said Margle.

On Tuesday, the township Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 to allow the process for an inter-municipal liquor license transfer to begin. Supervisors David Colver and K. Michael Mitchell were not present.

Selvaggio still has to go before the township Planning Commission and the LCB for final approval.

Township Police Chief Bruce Fretz said he doesn’t see the restaurant as a problem as long as plans are not for a bar or other large gathering spot.