Morris County Investor Says He Will Maintain King George Inn's 'History' & 'Charm'

While officials and local history lovers are left pondering what will become of the King George Inn — one of Warren Township's most historic buildings — now that it has been sold at County Sheriff's sale, the new owner already has been consulting with an architect about a plan for the future of the 18th century building.

Morris County investor Rocco Varma this week said that one of the ideas he has had under consideration has been using the downstairs of the building for a commercial purpose — say, an Italian market — and the upstairs as residential condominiums.

Verma, who in early December acquired the now-vacant building on King George Road at the corner of Mount Horeb Road said that the exterior of the building is part of its charm and appeal. "We would like to maintain it," he added. However, he said that he is not yet without further assessment whether the structure can be saved.

On Thursday, Verma said he would like to come up with a plan that's likeable both to residents and township officials. He said he has developed projects in Morris County and elsewhere in New Jersey, but this is his first venture into Somerset County.

Another plan he said he's considering is to install a cafe upstairs for people to enjoy the picturesque view out over the hills from the location on King George Road on King George Road and Mount Horeb Road.

He said that proposal might be similar to the adaptation of some of the historic buildings in Princeton, with a commercial use on the ground floor, and residential space on upper floors. He said the King George Inn is in a commercial zone.

"It's never going to be 100 percent residential," Varma said. 

"We would like to maintain the structure and we would like to maintain the use," he said, adding he is still looking at what use of the building will last long-term in that area. He added that the previous history doesn't indicate that the location can support a restaurant alone. 

Whatever the final plans for the property, Varma said he believes the township would benefit from having one of the main corners of the township occupied, instead of tenants moving in and out, as has been the case with a series of restaurants in recent years.

"We are trying to maintain the old world charm of the location," he added.

Would like to present plan by early next year

Verma said his target is to present a plan to the township for approval by early next year.

The old inn, most recently housed Torino, an Italian restaurant that closed a few years ago. It also is one of the historic sites in the heart of Mount Bethel Village, a distinction that hasn't been lost on local history lovers.

But the building, although picturesque from the street, needs refurbishing since it closed. Varma said that it also has a considerable mold problem that would need to be addressed.

In discussions with the local zoning department, Varma added that he was told that the building does not meet updated setback requirements from the road, which was widened long after the inn was built.

The 18th Century King George Inn in the heart of Warren Township's Mount Bethel Village is such a recognizable landmark that it was part of the logo for the township's bicentennial celebration in 2006, local history lover Greg Fitzgerald told the Township Committee last Thursday night.

Now Fitzgerald and others in the township, such as former mayor Susie Boyce, also a member of the township's historic sites committee, asked the Township Committee to take steps to ensure that the historic building isn't lost to redevelopment because of its strategic location.

Mayor Victor Sordillo told Fitzgerald and members of the historic sites committee at last Thursday's Township Committee meeting that township already had approached Somerset County, which is not interested in preserving the building.t

"It's an icon in our town," Fitzgerald said of the building "It's possibly the most significant structure in the town."

Boyce said the historic sites committee and other historians would like the exterior of the building preserved, no matter what use is decided for the interior. 

For more than 200 years, the inn has been a place to gather, even accommodating Township Committee meetings at some point in its history. For decades, it was a family-run restaurant, named the King George Inn.