WILKES-BARRE -- Plans to expand a restaurant business in Wilkes-Barre have come to a halt, at least for now.
The Hottle's Restaurant on South Main Street that offers seafood and steak is open, but on North Main Street, Hottle's Pizza and Pasta is closed.
To many students at King's College, pizza is their fuel. That's why they're so disappointed when they see the inside of Hottle's dark, the door locked, and a sign posted saying it would reopen September 1. But here we are on September 13, with no cheesy pizza to be had, and no pasta either.
“It's just very surprising, and I'm kind of sad about it,” said Andrew Willis.
“I wouldn't be able to study. I just need it!” said another student.
Hottle’s Pizza and Pasta opened just under a year ago and its owners were trying to get a liquor license for the place. But some nearby businesses didn't want that to happen. Now, with no liquor license, the restaurant's future is uncertain.
There are other nearby pizza places, like Mimmo's on Public Square, but a lot of people just want their Hottle's back.
Calls to the owner of Hottle's have not yet been returned, but we did reach out to the owner of Heat Night Club. He tells us he protested Hottle's having a liquor license because the business is so close to his.
