Page 39 - The Hunt - Winter 2022

hope to offer dinner in 2023. “It gives us the opportunity to bring our staff back,” Katie says. Over the past year, a township-issued special
events permit allowed a rented food truck in the Hank’s parking lot, but only Wednesday- Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “I needed a permit to operate on my own property,” says Anthony, a career chef, adding with more than a little sarcasm, “It’s been my lifelong dream and ambition to run a food truck.”
More than anything, the food truck provided a way to stay connected to the community. “Some days, it was just a soap box, a place to stand and say hello as we tried to conserve a tradition,” Anthony says.
“Or a place to say, ‘Come down to a township meeting and show your support,’” adds Katie, who’s gathered over 1,600 signatures on one petition in an effort to get things moving in Chadds Ford. “The last few meetings, we’ve packed the place.”
Updates would expand the kitchen, further equip the restrooms for ADA compliance, add more dining space and grow the footprint, mostly with an enclosed
“Fish were swimming around with unrefrigerated food. There was the nice ripe smell of the Brandywine in our dining room. It’s a beautiful river—until
it’s in your dining room.”
outdoor dining area. The new Hank’s would also be raised nine feet to the established flood line. According to former Brandywine Conservancy associate director David Shields, the marsh area behind the restaurant is particularly low because it was a longtime borrow pit used to elevate other areas of the floodplain. “Few know that,” he says.
If the Youngs were to rebuild without elevation, they would waive the right to
flood insurance and coverage through FEMA (which should cover soft costs like legal and other professional services). Any rebuild estimate is totally speculative due to the delays and current supply-chain and labor shortages.
The rebuild’s most vocal opponent is
Mark Stookey, a Creek Road neighbor and chair of the Chadds Ford Sewer Authority. He notes that the Hank’s Place proposal would increase seating from 68 to 98 (largely because of the outside deck) and reduce the existing 50 parking spaces to 41 where there’s already parking issues near a busy intersection that’s close to two other restaurants. “There’s not enough space, period,” says Stookey.
PA HIC #PA9550
BUILDERS OF FINE ARCHITECTURE
851 Kimberton Road | Chester Springs PA 19425 | www.griffithsconstruction.net
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