A beloved Tavern that in a 2000 Inquirer headline was referenced as “Elegance and Prices Put Marlton Tavern in a Class By Itself” is no more, as crews have completed the full demolition of the once beloved Marlton Tavern.
The Marlton Tavern closed in early 2020 and very soon after that in March that same year we reported the liquor license was sold to the Cinder Bar family.
Today that liquor license is still owned by Cinder Bar but is unused. We do not expect Cinder Bar to develop on the former tavern property, and will likely use elsewhere in town.
The future for the former Marlton Tavern property? It’s a big topic of conversation amongst the locals, as ownership has not stated what the plans are for the property.
In my 2020 article on the liquor license sale, I had captured in my writing some commentary that is no longer online… the “About Us” page of the now defunct website stated the building was constructed in 1898, initially built as a private home for the Brick family.
Somewhere along the way the home converted to commercial uses. I see newspaper references in the 80’s that the building was used as an office “Comptroller/Accountant wanted”
Eventually around 100 years after its construction it was converted into a restaurant… operating as Clayton’s and then Scargo On Main.
In 1999 the Lavdas family took over the restaurant, completely restoring the building to its original charm.
At that time of the closing I had found a video posted to a Facebook group where one of the Marlton Tavern owners toasted the bar and its loyal patrons. The gentleman said in a saddened but proud tone that the night may be the last that the bar was open serving alcohol.
I tried to find that video again this morning but I cannot locate it.
The timing of all of these changes was just as the pandemic was becoming aware to the United States… with New Jersey shutting down temporarily shutting down restaurants in mid March.
That being said it’s clear based on timing of the 2020 Public Notice regarding the liquor license sale, that the process to close the Marlton Tavern had started months before the pandemic swept the country.
“This place has been here for 20 years. We opened up in February of 2000. We’re not closing yet, but there’s a chance we may. And due to the latest events we may not be able to have a final night. This may be the final night. So for everybody that’s come here for all these years.. do me a favor, one last moment. In the future you’re gonna be driving by here. You’re like, I remember being in that place. if you’re having a bad day, just think about when you’ve been here. And all the fun and all the people. We love you all, thank you so much”
Marlton Tavern Ownership – Facebook Comments in 2020
Neil from Facebook’s A View From Evesham contributed to this story.
Save The Building?
No one has been covering the fate of the Marlton Tavern more than Neil at the popular Facebook page A View From Evesham (Facebook: Marlton Tavern Search URL)
A quick search of his Facebook page chronicles the history over the last few years as locals and the Township’s Historic Preservation Commission tried to save the building from the bulldozers.
I don’t think it was made clear at the point of closure what the plans were for the building…if the owner had originally intended to keep the building standing and sell it intact.
That being said, not long after the closing the plans clearly shifted towards demolishing the building, a plan to which the Historic Preservation Commission of Evesham initially denied.
In a June 2023 update at A View From Evesham, Neil does an excellent job capturing the commentary which describes the newer challenges that the building faced in being restored. (Facebook)
First off, it’s just important to know that Mother Nature can be a very vengeful entity… it’s amazing how fast any building left uninhabited for even a short amount of time can quickly see the elements start to take it back.
According to commentary at that hearing, with the Tavern closed the applicant had shut off the water (as one would expect) but the water to the fire sprinklers was not turned off. With no heat operating in the building, a pipe froze in the cold of December… burst open… and water from the sprinkler supply severally flooded the building.
The commentary goes on to say that the ownership had no idea this was taking place, and was notified by the Township about the flooding. There was likely many hours of water pouring through the building.
The water damage destroyed the electrical system and damaged the walls, floors and more… and it was stated that in this case, insurance does not cover water damage from a sprinkler system.
At that point the ownership stated the cost to repair the building would be an astronomical amount of money. While they ownership did not have an estimate on the repairs, at the time a local realtor who was representing a prospective buyer said it would have cost between $2-2.5 million to update the building and reopen it as a restaurant.
The building actually sat for another year with Mother Nature doing her best to take back the property. In August of 2024 Neil noted that it looked like a part of the ceiling had collapsed inside the front room of the Tavern.
Finally in September of 2024, the approval was given to demolish the Tavern
As of today there there’s no information on what is planned for the property, nor what the Cinder Bar family has planned for the liquor license. I am reaching out to the Cinder Bar ownership to see if they have any updates
Links and Location
Marlton Tavern – Demolished
65 E Main St
Marlton, NJ 08053
Marlton Tavern Facebook (Dormant)