MORRISVILLE, PA — Approximately 18,000 square feet of the Stockham building still remains vacant; the result of what some consider to be years of mismanagement on the part of its new owners. A prominent feature in the downtown Morrisville, PA landscape, its shabby appearance and lack of occupants have not added much to the town. Its owners think they’ve come up with a solution; but since it includes adult entertainment, not everyone is impressed.Although the building once housed the Record Collector music store, more than half of its floor space is currently unused. On the morning of May 5th, the Stockham Interests LLC of Robbinsville, NJ will go before the Morrisville zoning board in hopes of gaining a variance in order to move forward with its redevelopment plan – which includes a “burlesque style adult entertainment” lounge.
Envisioned on the second floor of the four-story masonry building at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street, making that a reality may be a challenge, since the Bucks County Courier Times reports borough manager George Mount as stating that the building is not zoned for adult entertainment.
As proposed by Stockham Interests, renovation plans include an “upscale” restaurant and bakery on the first floor, and a fitness center on the third and fourth floors. Along with the burlesque lounge, these businesses would fill the 65-percent of building space standing empty today.
Neither the restaurant nor the adult entertainment venue would have liquor licenses initially. Instead, customers wishing to indulge in spirits or other forms of alcohol would need to bring their own bottles.
The Times indicates that although many want to see something happen with the Stockham building, including adult entertainment in that something does not meet everyone’s approval. The borough council appointed members of the Morrisville Economic Development Corp., for instance, have refused to endorse the plan.
