Business & Tech

Houlihan's to Move Into Former Chili's Location

Planning Board OKs application to place new chain restaurant on Route 46.

The vacated building at 1540 Route 46, which once housed the Southwest-themed restaurant will have new life soon as Houlihan's Restaurant and Bar.

Just weeks after  last year, the Parsippany Planning Board Monday approved a minor site plan from Hasbrouck Heights-based ACE Restaurant Group, which owns Houlihan's, to allow the new eatery to take over the property.

Board member Robert Keller told Patch that the approval came very quickly, largely because he said ACE plans to make very few changes to the site.

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"They will be squaring off the two front corners of the building, which are currently rounded," he said. "They are also adding a few more seats.  Parking, lighting, landscaping, etcetera, will remain the same. [And they're] adding awnings to the building, but [there will be] no signage on the awnings."

Keller said the body doesn't deal with the matter of timelines, so no exact date was specified for the opening of the Parsippany Houlihan's, but he told Patch that he assumes it will be "sooner rather than later."

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ACE officials have yet to respond to Patch's request for information.

The Houlihan's website says that the eatery offers different menus for different locations, so there is no telling what will be served once it opens. However, while many assume it is a chain of Irish restaurants, Houlihans's offers largely American cuisine in a fast-casual setting.

According to the website, "Our menus are developed to suit a wide array of palates, dietary needs and lifestyle choices. You’ll find traditional entrees, mini meals, small plates for lighter dining or grazing in groups, along with meatless dishes and those made with gluten-free ingredients."

Some of the items that appear on many of its menus include steaks and chops, a hummus made from white beans and artichokes, various enchiladas, grilled rosemary chicken and different varieties of flatbread pizza.


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