After the recent sale of the Union Hotel, Assemblywoman Donna Simon requested that a committee panel consider her legislation to qualify certain small, historic hotels for liquor licenses to reopen a landmark that planners have called the “critical component” to revitalize Flemington’s downtown.

“We need to think outside the box to draw people back to Main Street, to encourage more businesses to open, create jobs and grow downtown economies,” Simon, R-Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer and Middlesex, said. “The Union Hotel has been an important part of Flemington’s economy, culture and our state’s history. It remains a ‘critical component’ of Flemington’s economic future.”

This summer, surrounded by local officials and business leaders, on the steps of the landmark hotel that started as a stagecoach stop and became famous for its role in the famous Lindbergh Trial, Simon proposed allowing smaller historic inns to qualify for special liquor licenses already offered to larger historic hotels.

Although there are no available liquor licenses in the borough, the hotel was recently sold to two local businessmen who have plans to re-open it with 50 rooms, a banquet hall, elegant steakhouse and a casual pub. Simon sent a letter to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee Chairman Charles Mainor requesting he post her plan, A-3198, for a vote.

“Bringing jobs back to Main Streets is a priority we all can agree on,” Simon said. “This plan could become a model on using creative solutions to bring back New Jersey’s downtowns.”

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