SOUTH JERSEY

Geets diner may get new owner, new life

Carly Q. Romalino

@CarlyQRomalino

The Geets Diner sign is reflected in the side of the diner on the Black Horse Pike in Williamstown.

This story was updates on Jan. 27, 2017.

MONROE TWP. - A Franklin Township woman associated with the Franklinville Inn will acquire the Geets Diner property and liquor license, with plans to reopen Williamstown's iconic Black Horse Pike eatery, an official said Monday.

"They understand what an icon Geets Diner is," Monroe Township Mayor Dan Teefy told the Courier-Post.

A federal bankruptcy court judge Friday authorized the $3.9 million sale of the NJK Real Estate Enterprises-owned property to Sandy Cannon through Kala-Trofi LLC, according to court documents.

Franklinville Inn's owner will be involved with the Williamstown diner, Cannon said.

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"They have a very excellent reputation," Teefy said, adding Kala-Trofi.

"We're pleased to have them come to town and bring Geets back."

Judge Andrew B. Altenburg authorized the sale to Kala-Trofi "free and clear of liens," the order indicated.

If Kala-Trofi does not follow through with the sale, Cyzner Properties will buy it for $3.81 million, according to the court order.

The 10,000-square-foot building on 2.1 acres was listed on Loopnet.com at $3.95 million with the liquor license.

The interested buyers met Jan. 10 for a quiet courthouse conference room auction, according to Bryant Lafferty, the Realtor for Cyzner Properties.

The Kala-Trofi transaction is an "as-is" sale with "the intent of that buyer to reopen," Lafferty said.

His client was for a "knock-down" of the site, Lafferty told the Courier-Post.

The Franklinville Inn (clockwise from top right) was recently named one of the top 100 restaurants in the country by Open Table. Three generations of the Lachowicz family have run the Franklinville Inn since 1962: (from left) Mike Lachowicz, Mark Lachowicz and Daniel Lachowicz co-own the restaurant. Dishes featured at the Inn include the crab cake and filet mignon combo, and Salmon Italiano dusted with basil, oregano, garlic and parmesan and served with zucchini spaghetti with plum tomatoes.

Cyzner Properties is a private commercial real estate company, with about 50 properties in the state, including a Chick-fil-A in Washington Township. Other properties are banks, Dunkin' Donuts and pharmacies, according to its website.

Teefy said Williamstown would rather a restaurant remain at the corner of the pike and Sicklerville Road.

"We would rather have another diner in town," the mayor said.

"It means a lot to the people in town to have Geets back."

The building's interior is "spotless," Lafferty said.

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"You can walk around and the silverware is still there," he said.

After it closed suddenly in August when its owners filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Lafferty had the building cleaned and winterized. Full ice machines were emptied and fryers were sanitized.

"We didn't know how long it would sit," the broker said.

Carly Q. Romalino; (856) 486-2476; cromalino@gannettnj.com