SAVE OUR TRIVIA! Westwood’s Best Brewery Fights Town Limits After State Law Change
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Westwood NJ, a popular spot in downtown Westwood, Five Dimes Brewery, is fighting to expand its community presence despite a state law intended to make it easier for craft brewers to thrive.
Owner Chris Alepa is rallying local support as the brewery seeks permission from the Westwood Zoning Board to adopt the relaxed regulations recently enacted by the state. The crucial Zoning Board hearing, which drew a packed house of supporters, was unexpectedly delayed until December 1st.
The State vs. Local Regulations: A Brewing Conflict
The core of the issue lies in the 2024 amendments to New Jersey’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws. These changes were a “big win” for the craft beverage industry, allowing licensed brewers, cideries, and others to hold:
- 25 off-premises special events.
- An unlimited number of onsite special events and private parties.
Alepa, whose brewery was voted Best Brewery in Bergen County three years in a row, began operating under these new state freedoms, offering popular live music, trivia nights, and bingo.
However, Westwood borough officials informed him that Five Dimes, which opened in 2022, is still bound by its initial 2022 site plan approval, which imposes strict limits on the number of events it can host.
“They are making us go through all these hoops at a huge cost. For this simple little change of resolution, we have over $10,000 in legal bills,” Alepa stated, calling the process unnecessary given the new state law.
Why the Zoning Board Involvement?
Westwood Mayor Raymond Arroyo explained the borough’s position, noting that while the state law has changed, new regulations “do not automatically apply to a pre-existing use” under the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law.
Therefore, Five Dimes was instructed to “apply to change the resolution to cover the new laws,” leading to the required full application before the Zoning Board.
Community Rallies Behind Five Dimes
The brewery has become a central part of Westwood’s downtown vitality, prompting a massive show of support from residents.
In a recent plea to the community, Alepa urged residents to back the application to preserve “events that bring people together and help Westwood’s downtown stay vibrant and alive.”
The packed Zoning Board hearing and the “hundreds and hundreds of posts” of support on social media confirm the brewery’s standing as a cherished community hub.
The one dissenting voice comes from a letter of objection submitted by several local businesses and property owners, whose specific concerns about the expanded activities were not immediately clear.
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I’ll give this place a try…wasn’t even aware it existed.