Planning Board Hears Request to Replace Blaze Pizza with Quickway Japanese Hibachi at Republic Plaza

The Town of Babylon Planning Board on Aug. 4 heard a public hearing on job number 2524F, an application to change tenancy of a multi-tenant pad site in Republic Plaza to a Quickway Japanese Hibachi restaurant.

Board members and the applicant emphasized that the proposal would swap one fast-casual restaurant tenant for another and that the applicant agreed to the planning commission conditions, while reserving concerns that some conditions fall to the property owner.

John Farrell, identified on the record as representing the applicant and the firm “San, Ward, Braff, Ka Sugnano,” said the application seeks a special permit to operate a restaurant with more than 16 seats in a space between Chili’s and Houlihan’s on Route 110 in East Farmingdale. “It’s the same 46 seats and 3 employees,” Farrell said, adding the business model is largely takeout with limited dine-in seating. He described the Quickway operation as “fast casual” and said the teppanyaki cooking would be done in a back kitchen rather than as a front-of-house hibachi show.

Farrell told the board that the application had originally identified a different outgoing tenant; the unit to be occupied replaces Blaze Pizza and Noodles & Company, not Burger Village, and that change “doesn’t have any real impact on the parking” for the center. He also said the applicant will comply with the conditions in the planning commission memo of July 30, 2025, but noted many of the 52 conditions address site maintenance responsibilities that the property owner must carry out.

Board member Frank Santos asked whether the applicant would use the existing compactor. Farrell said the application includes installing another compactor or expanding capacity in the existing trash enclosure. Board member Daniel Trushin asked about grease-trap capacity; Farrell said the site previously housed a restaurant and that “if we need to replace the grease trap, we will. But, if we don’t, we’re gonna use what’s there.” Another board member asked about seating layout and where the hibachi cooking would occur; Farrell said the cooking takes place in the back as part of kitchen operations rather than as tabletop teppanyaki shows.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The board voted to close the public hearing and reserve decision so staff can review any outstanding or written comments; the record remains open for written submissions. To follow up or submit written comments, the planning department directs residents to the West Wing of Town Hall (inspection hours 9 a.m.–4 p.m.), phone (631) 957-3103, or planningcomments@townofbabylonny.gov.

The board’s closing vote was made “Motion by Juliet; Second by Juan,” and the chair recorded the vote in the affirmative. The decision on the application remains reserved pending staff review and any additional materials the applicant provides.

Less critical details: the subject property is on the east side of Route 110 about 1,122 feet north of Route 109 in East Farmingdale and is commonly called Republic Plaza (Walmart shopping center). The applicant stated Quickway operates locations primarily in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia and is beginning to expand into the Northeast.