The Bristol Township Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance related to parking Monday evening for a proposed Nifty Fifty’s diner in the Fairless Hills section.
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Nifty Fifty’s is looking to open at the closed Bank of America at 503 South Oxford Valley Road.
The location will be a franchise operated by Langhorne-based Retro Eats LLC, which operates the Warminster Township Nifty Fifty’s location.
The franchisee needed a variance to operate a Nifty Fifty’s restaurant with 38 parking spaces instead of the required 82, but not without pushback from a neighboring property owner.
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The board’s decision came after discussions and negotiations between the applicant and representatives from Queen Anne Plaza shopping center, who expressed concerns about potential parking overflow onto their property.
Bryce McGuigan, the attorney for Retro Eats LLC, said the proposed restaurant would have 90 seats in a 4,000-square-foot building with 1,500 square feet dedicated to dining space.
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“We know what parking is required for a Nifty Fifty’s restaurant,” McGuigan said, citing the franchisee’s experience with the similar location in Warminster Township. “On its greatest day, its greatest demand, Saturday afternoon, they’re never using more than 26, 27 spaces, and that includes employees.”
Anthony Carotenuto, the franchisee, testified that the 38 proposed spaces would be sufficient based on his experience operating the Warminster Township location.
“We don’t want customers to complain about parking,” Carotenuto said. “We definitely don’t want customers parking in somebody else’s spaces.”
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However, representatives from Queen Anne Plaza, the adjacent shopping center, voiced strong opposition to the variance.
After initially requesting the board deny the variance, Queen Anne Plaza representatives proposed several conditions if it were to be approved.
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The conditions proposed included installing a metal fence along the property line and posting no-parking signs.
After discussions, Carotenuto agreed to the conditions proposed by Queen Anne Plaza.
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“We care that much and want to come to this location that much and serve the community,” he said. “So we’re willing to pay for the fence.”
The board ultimately approved the variance with conditions that Retro Eats LLC install a fence and no-parking signs to be coordinated with Queen Anne Plaza.
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Nifty Fifty’s is a 1950s-style diner known for burgers, cheesesteaks, and milkshakes. It has been around since 1987 and operates several locations in the Philadelphia region.
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