Olde Silver Tavern closes due to health violations

MANALAPAN — The Olde Silver Tavern, Route 522, which has been a popular Manalapan landmark long known for its steaks, seafood and fun atmosphere, was shut down this week due to “numerous health code violations regarding sanitation and food handling,” according to Manalapan Health Officer Dave Richardson.

Richardson told the News Transcript that the owner of the tavern, George Sapirstein, voluntarily agreed to close the business and did so on Sept. 22 after being informed of the township’s intention to suspend the restaurant’s food license because of the health and sanitation violations.

Richardson said Sapirstein was told that Manalapan would “go to the next level” if he did not voluntarily shut down the tavern. He said officials were prepared to seek a court injunction that if granted would have forced the tavern to shut down due to the suspension of its food license.

Richardson said it is his understanding there are buyers in place to purchase the business from Sapirstein.

Although an attempt was made by the News Transcript to contact Sapirstein, a telephone number for Sapirstein rang without an answer on Sept. 26.

Richardson said Sapirstein was present at a Manalapan Board of Health meeting on Sept. 23 and tried to plead his case as to why the business should not be forced to remain closed.

Richardson said it is his understanding that the problems at the establishment were predicated on the fact that Sapirstein’s “revenues were not meeting his costs.”

“Regardless, we (the health department) felt safety was the priority concern,” he said.

Richardson said Sapirstein voluntarily closed the tavern on Sept. 22 after being asked by township officials to do so the previous week.

Ludwig and Elfriedge Von Der Fecht, who had owned the tavern since 1988, sold the business to Sapirstein and his son-inlaw, Jason Cobb, in 2004.