ORANGE : P.J. Mead Wins OK for New Restaurant

The owners of P.J. Mead Books & Coffee won a permit to open a restaurant and shop in an Old Towne church, but the City Council will be checking up on them in six months.

That was the unusual arrangement Gary and Peggy Mead reached last week with the City Council. Before reaching the agreement, the council heard from supporters and detractors of the bookstore and coffeehouse that the Meads currently run on Cambridge Street.

This past summer, the council had required the Meads to build a sound wall around the Cambridge Street coffeehouse to protect neighbors from noise.

Some neighbors of that coffeehouse brought up fears of noise, but the prime issue surrounding the new restaurant was parking.

“The main issue in downtown Orange is always parking,” Gary Mead Sr. said. “All we are asking for is the opportunity to participate in the downtown plaza. We would like to do that by rehabilitating a 103-year-old church that is now in jeopardy because it is abandoned.”

The Meads bought a parking lot adjacent to the former Antioch Baptist Church to accommodate parking, but the number of spaces falls below that required for the size of the new restaurant.

Community Development Director Jack McGee pointed out that the church had no parking at all when it was open.

“Most businesses in Old Towne do not have parking provided,” he added. The Meads arranged for parking, and McGee recommended the council approve the permit.

Council members agreed, but they stipulated that the issue come back after six months, so they can review the application for noise and parking issues once the business is operating. The Meads additionally agreed that they will not serve alcohol or provide live entertainment.