August 8, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Brothers Pizza in Midland Park has finally received the green light to begin renovating the former West Coast Video space in the Midland Park Shopping Center on Godwin Avenue into a pizzeria/Italian restaurant triple its current size next door. An October grand opening is anticipated. Brothers received variances from the Midland Park Board of Adjustment in July, 2011 but was held up by building per- Brothers gets permits to move forward with restaurant mits that could only be issued by the state because local officials do not hold certification to review the particular operation. Then the adjacent store occupied by Pay/ Half became vacant, and Brothers decided to annex an additional 5 ft. strip to add to its kitchen. The added 287 sq. ft. required returning to the board of adjustment for a variance for the additional four parking needed. Conditional use variances had been needed to allow a restaurant in the B-3 business zone, where a restaurant is considered a conditional use; to waive the requirement for additional parking; and to permit the restaurant to operate within 200 feet of another restaurant, in this case, the Starbucks. The increase in the size of the restaurant from 1,320 sq.ft. to 4,000 sq. ft. would ordinarily have required an increase in the establishment’s parking requirement within the shopping center from 35 parking spaces to 90. Co-owner Anthony Mazzola had testified that the restaurant’s peak hours are on Friday evening, when most of the stores in the shopping center are already closed and the parking lot has many empty spaces. Brothers Pizza, which has been operating in the same location in the shopping center for 40 years, currently has 38 seats; the new facility will have 96 seats. The new restaurant is being decorated The Midland Park Women’s Alumni Softball players will hold a fundraiser to benefit Elaine Mejury Mazurek on Saturday, Sept. 15. The event will be held at 3 p.m. on the Midland Park Recreation Softball Field. Mazurek, who grew up in Midland Park, is battling breast cancer. From elementary school through high school, Mazurek was a member of Midland Park softball, soccer, and basketball teams. She continued to play throughout college. The young athlete is now married and has a two-year old daughter, Hazel. Those who are interested in playing in the softball game may contact Robert Schiffer at 72 East Center Street, Midland Park, NJ 07432. For more information, or to volunteer with the event, contact Carol Ann at (201) 447-0496. At right: Elaine Mejury Mazurek Volunteers sought for benefit in a warm Tuscany style, with floor to ceiling windows on two sides, and open partitions for a cozier ambiance. Custom counters and furniture, and slate floors are being installed throughout, including two community tables for larger groups or private parties and a bench in the dining room. The kitchen has been quadrupled in size to allow for comfortable preparation areas; new salad, dessert and bread warming areas; a separate dishwasher area and convenient storage. All kitchen equipment will be brand new, with state of the art technology providing fresher, healthier food preparation. There will be three cooking stations with a total of 18 burners, and three double pizza ovens, one of which will be open flame. A showcase will display the pizza varieties available. “We’re very excited. We can hardly wait,” said co-owner Vera Mannino. She (continued on page 31)