Sports Bar Looks to Replace East Gate Square Friendly's

A popular sports bar with more than 900 locations nationwide is looking to replace the East Gate Square Friendly's.

Buffalo Wild Wings has submitted plans to the township to open one of its franchises on Nixon Drive, across from Moorestown Mall. Representatives for the company will present their plans to the township zoning board next Tuesday, Sept. 17, seeking various approvals, including outdoor patio seating. 

The Minneapolis-based company would use the liquor license purchased by East Gate Square. The operators of the shopping center paid $1,030,000 for one of the six available licenses—with Moorestown Mall scooping up four others. 

There are only three Buffalo Wild Wings locations in the area: Sicklerville, NJ; Langhorne, PA; and another in Northeast Philadelphia. 

Attorney Timothy Prime, who is representing Buffalo Wild Wings locally, said there is no timeframe yet for opening the restaurant, since the company still needs township approvals, but that they'd like to begin construction "as soon as possible."

The Minneapolis-based chain, which opened its first location in 1982 in Ohio, describes itself as "the ultimate place to eat wings, grab a cold one and meet your friends to watch the game."

The menu features bar fare of many varieties, burgers and, of course, wings, which come in 20 varieties. 

A spokesperson for the company could not immediately be reached for comment.

Voters in 2011 approved the sale of liquor licenses—after Moorestown had been dry for a century-plus—exclusively at the mall. However, following a lawsuit filed by East Gate, a Superior Court judge ruled last year that the township could not restrict alcohol sales to the mall property.

Moorestown's other Friendly's franchise—formerly located on Main Street—closed at the end of 2011 after 40 years in business.