Chippery to Return in March, Neighbors Express Concerns

When the Chippery on South Avenue reopens next spring, the classic fish and chips will be accompanied by a broader menu including healthier fare and kid-sized portions.

The owner, Brian Walter, hopes the new building and his plan for success will win over some of the neighbors that worry that problems that plagued the old restaurant may come back.

Walter, who also owns on South Avenue, said he now expects to open the new restaurant by next March, after a new modular building is completed and brought in.

He’s hoping it becomes a place where the next generation of high school kids will again hang out as well as where families want to come for an easy, local meal.

“I want to bring back that local feeling,” he said, emphasizing that he will work hire local residents.

Walter noted that he remembers hanging out there when he was in high school, as did his father, Norm Walter.

“I want to make it a place where you can go with your family and people know each other,” Brian Walter said.

He plans to keep the same recipes for the fried products, including the original chips and Atlantic cod as the main fish.

They will also have healthier items like salads, wraps and fish tacos.

A new children's menu will be comprisedof mostly smaller orders of the main items, with milk and juice as drink options. Walter is also designing toys for the kids meals too.

He also plans to operate a side window for pick-up orders and offer ice cream in the summer.

Still, some neighbors aren’t looking forward to the Chippery’s reopening.

“I’m concerned there’s going to be traffic, I’m concerned there may be a health issue and I’m concerned about the smell,” said Mike Venezia, who lives on Laurel Place.

He was one of several people who voiced their complaints when the planning board was reviewing the restaurant’s plans.

Another nearby resident said for the 50 years that he’s lived there, it hasn’t been a problem.

“I wish him luck and hope he’s successful,” said Ron Van Brunt, of Old South Avenue. “Eventually it’s going to be something, so I'm okay with it, as long as it’s not a McDonald’s.”

However, Van Brunt stated that he too is a little concerned about the fried fish smell.

Walter said that the brand new building will have a state-of-the-art new air circulation and filtration system.

“That will eliminate 80% of the bad smell” neighbors are worried about," he said.

As for traffic, the number of parking spots that will be available is regulated and based on the restaurant’s capacity, and is limited by how he’s allowed to use the entire property, much of which is covered with trees.

Walter hopes he can win over the neighbors who are worried, but says he’s gotten much more positive feedback.

“I get calls everyday asking ‘when is the fish and chips place going to open,’ not ‘how dare you’,” he said.

As is, the project has taken much longer than he expected.

He originally thought it could be a turnkey operation and just reopen in the current facility, but his architect wasn’t comfortable with the structure, he said.

So now, a new building is being built in Pennsylvania while all of the plans are being reviewed by the Fanwood building department. The nautical-themed building will have a basement on the same footprint as the current building, and will still be one-story high and seat about 25 people, Walter explained.

He hopes the plans get the go ahead so the demolition can begin in January. If everything goes as planned, the building will be delivered in early February so that Walter can open the business in March.

Before the demolition begins, Walter plans to invite back all former staff who are nearby for a reunion and to take a picture in front of the existing building.