Baker Books building to be demolished for new parking spots

A long-vacant building on Route 6 will be demolished to pave the way for more parking at Not Your Average Joe’s.

The Planning Board approved the restaurant's proposal to demolish the former Baker Books building, located at 69 State Road, and replace it with expanded restaurant parking. The building is located next door to the restaurant.

According to owner Steve Silverstein, the project will add approximately 35 new parking spaces to the property for a total of 86. After the approval, he said contracts for demolition and paving are ready to be signed, and work could be done by Thanksgiving.

The building has remained vacant since 2012, when Baker Books -- a long-time institution which had been in operation for nearly 25 years -- downsized. The business moved to a smaller location on McCabe street, and shuttered its brick-and-mortar business two years later.

According to assessment records, the 5,040 square-foot building was constructed in 1972. It was purchased by Not Your Average Joe's in 2012.

Silverstein and his attorney had to work through several legal issues relating to the proposal, including resolving an issue relating to a paper street -- a street appearing on town maps but was not actually built -- and questions regarding whether or not the property would be required to meet new stricter parking standards.