Restaraunt Could Be Moving Into Kennedy Recreation Center

A new restaurant and bar could be moving into the second-floor of the .

Though no deals have been made, council members discussed a possible arrangement with an outside restaurant group Thursday to put in a full-service restaurant on the second-floor of the building.  

The name of the restaurant is currently being discussed and according to Ron Marcissuk Jr., head of business affairs for the restaurant group, should be referred to as, simply, the restaurant.

City officials said they have no idea what kind of revenue the restaurant might bring to the city, but contracts have been drawn up and are currently under review.

City Administrator Bob Cady the utilities for the facility are under discussion.

The restaurant group offered to pay $500 per month for utilities, but the area upstairs comprises about five percent of the overall square footage of the building, and city officials thought it more reasonable to charge the company for utilities based on square footage and not a flat monthly rate.

Councilmember Timber Baun-Crooks said the air conditioning costs alone at are about $700 per month, and the salon’s square footage is far less than that of the area considered at the recreation center.

Council members requested that Cady adjust the contract to put in an additional meter to keep track of the utility use and to charge the restaurant for the use.

Marcissuk said he has not discussed the flat rate with city officials other than what was discussed a few months ago when the group presented them with the contract.

“We are open to discuss it, and we want to work with the city, but we also know that past tenants have operated with utilities at a flat rate,” Marcissuk said.

Marcissuk added that the city maintains the temperature exactly they way they do the arenas and that they are already paying to maintain the comfort of current customers.

In regard to the installation of an additional meter, Marcissuk said he and city officials had briefly discussed putting in a meter at the time of their meetings, but due to the heavy costs they thought it might not be warranted.

“We are open to suggestions from the city,” Marcissuk said. “If that’s what the city decides to do, we are renting a place from them and we may go back and take another look at the contract.”

Marcissuk added that his interview with Patch was the first he had heard of any further utilities related discussions.

“It’s a very easily resolved issue, but this is my first time hearing about it,” Marcissuk said. “There’s no discontent from either party. When we talk I’m sure we will come to a quick solution. It’s not a deal breaker.”

City officials also asked the group to put in gates for security purposes because the restaurant is scheduled to be open until 2 a.m. and would have a fully stocked bar available to patrons of legal drinking age. City officials do not feel they should be responsible for security after current normal business hours.

Any further negotiations are not yet scheduled and would not be held in public, according to Trenton Mayor Gerald Brown.

City council members must approve the contract before a deal can be made.

“I’d like to have a deal made in the next month,” Brown said. “I hope we do come to an agreement.”

According to Marcissuk, the name of the restaurant is currently being considered. He said the restaurant group is in discussions with public figures that may endorse the restaurant, possibly an athlete.