OPEN AGAIN: “We are glad to be open again and part of the community once more. Our former customers are happy to see us, and we have many regulars as well as people finding us for the first time. We also get lots of tourists. Princeton is a unique town that attracts visitors from all over the world. Our different beer styles seem to align with many international tastes.” Eric Nutt (left), director of corporate sales, and Ray Villano, general manager of Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, are delighted with their new Palmer Square location, formerly home to the Princeton Post Office.

By Jean Stratton

Adam Rechnitz, owner of Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, Eric Nutt, director of corporate sales, and Ray Villano, general manager, like challenges!

When he opened Triumph Brewing Company in 1995, certified master brewer Rechnitz had to take on the New Jersey Legislature, and spearhead a drive to legalize brewpubs, which were then illegal in New Jersey. He and his partners were persistent, the bill was passed, and Triumph Brewing Company, the first brewpub in the state, opened at 138 Nassau Street in 1995.

“Brewpubs didn’t exist in the East then,” reports Nutt. “They were mostly in Seattle and Portland. There are more here now, but we are still the original!”

History has surrounded Triumph over the years. The original Nassau Street location had been home to a silent movie theater, a hardware store, a bowling alley, and a number of restaurants.

Opportunity and Challenge

And then, the Triumph team decided to take on another major challenge: turning the 90-year-old Palmer Square post office into a brand new restaurant and brewery.

This daunting task, accomplished when the Triumph Restaurant & Brewery opened in June, was an opportunity Rechnitz and his team were enthusiastic to tackle, says Nutt.

“When this opportunity became available, we were interested right away. We liked the heritage, the history of the post office. We also liked the location and the chance to continue to be in the heart of Princeton.”

Transforming the former post office into a brewery and restaurant necessitated teamwork and collaboration with many partners.

“The history of the building was important, and we wanted to keep that continuity,” points out Nutt. “Kevin Wilkes was involved from the beginning of the project, and he and Princeton Design Guild played a major part in guiding Triumph’s newest location.”

Entire Project

Kevin Wilkes AIA, owner and principal of Princeton Design Guild, was asked by Rechnitz to come on board soon after the Planning Board’s approval in 2017.

“I had two different but related responsibilities with the project,” he explains. “First, I was the owner’s representative because he is not present in Princeton all the time. I worked with him and his management team to hire architects, builders, and oversee all critical detailing of the project. I also represented the project as it related to the state and municipal enforcement authorities for compliance with all applicable approvals and codes.

“Second, I was the millwork subcontractor performing all of the historic preservation woodworking and contemporary millwork installations on the job. Princeton Design Guild joined with Massimo Building Corporation, a union general contractor, to execute the entire project as a team together.

“We assembled an excellent team including Richardson Smith Architects (interiors), Historic Building Architects of Trenton, Hopewell Design Shop, Princeton Engineering Group, and William Gittings & Associates of Plainsboro (architect of record).”

As the project progressed, it required restoration of some areas of the post office and complete redesign of others. Over the years, time had taken its toll, and damage was prevalent.

“We took all of the damaged parts out for restoration work,” says Wilkes. “We completely restored all the woodwork and repaired the glass clerestory windows. Everything in the lobby, which is now the main dining room, is original except for the barrel vault work.”

“Ninety years of accumulated dirt were removed from the chandeliers, which were revealed to be copper brass after cleaning,” he adds “They are the originals and exceptionally beautiful.”

NEW LOOK: A striking point of interest in the handsome main dining room of the newly opened Triumph Restaurant & Brewery is the historic mural in the background. Commissioned by the Procurement Division of the U.S. Department of Treasury, it was installed in the main lobby of the Princeton Post Office in 1939. On loan from the U.S. Post Office Fine Arts Museum Collection, it features historical figures depicting famous Princeton University graduates, including James Madison, Class of 1771, and others, as well as Nassau Hall.

Nothing Comparable

He emphasizes that the overall project was a unique experience, and some things especially stand out. “Fabricating and installing the main bar and cocktail lounge on the top level was special. There is simply nothing comparable in all of Princeton.

“I also want to add that I appreciated working firsthand with Princeton municipal officials. After 10 years of consolidation, the municipal departments are stronger, better staffed, and able to coordinate critical detailing. It is nice to see this close collaboration that benefits everyone in the community.”

What has been created after all this time, effort, and expertise is a sophisticated combination of informal brewpub and upscale elegant restaurant — an exciting new opportunity on the Princeton scene. Its two-story spacious setting provides seating for 265, and offers a new and intriguing look to customers.

The sleek modern entrance, featuring a dark glass frontage at 20 Palmer Square East, leads to the splendid top level Mail Room Lounge, suitable for small bites, snacks, and libations (beer, of course, and also wine and cocktails). The variety of seating offers banquettes, and assorted chairs and table styles.

An extensive solid walnut bar is adjacent, with seating for many guests.

Der Keller, the downstairs pub, offers a full range of drink choices as well as sandwiches and salads. This has become a very popular gathering area.

A highlight is the Main Dining Room, featuring a variety of seating opportunities, including three round tables (two for five guests and one for eight), an attraction for many diners. Gracious dining is the hallmark here, with fresh table linens and an elegant ambiance of inviting open space.

Postal Motif

Formerly the main lobby of the post office, the room retains the postal motif. General Delivery, Special Delivery, Out of Town, Air Mail, Princeton, Stamps, and Parcel Post windows are all highlighted with their original look. In addition, as noted in the caption, the historic mural is prominently displayed in the room.

Still another dining opportunity is Chambers Walk. Adjacent to the main dining room, it is available for private parties and events. “We have already had private parties, and we expect to have more for the holidays,” says Nutt. “This will be an increasing part of the business.”

In keeping with its origin and the fact that beer is made on the premises, a wide list of lagers and ales is available. Whether one is a serious beer connoisseur or someone just trying out new tastes, there is a glass for you!

“We have brewed more than 250 styles of beer to date, and we offer nine beers on tap that rotate often,” reports Nutt. “One of our flagship beers is Bengal Gold IPA, which is a west coast style IPA and very balanced. Others that are special are Keller Pils, Hazy IPA, and Vienna lager. We are proud to offer numerous lagers on tap.”

In addition, a full bar offers a range of wine, cocktails, and “mocktails.”

Dining includes everything from appetizers, snacks, sides, and shared plates to salads and sandwiches to elegant, sophisticated entrees and tempting desserts. A kids menu is also available with a variety of choices from fried chicken to fish and chips and more.

Everyone’s Taste

There really is something for everyone’s taste, from simple to sophisticated, home style to creative, cutting edge cuisine.

Also, fresh ingredients and sustainability are important to Triumph’s operation, says Nutt. “We support local farms, and we source local in the kitchen whenever possible. We believe in sustainability, farm to table. And beer is sustainable. We deliver our spent grain to a local farmer for feed.”

Currently dining is dinner only, but lunch will be available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting November 8.

Nutt and Villano are enthusiastic about Triumph’s opening, and look forward to serving even more customers in the coming days and months.

“We are so happy to be back and in this wonderful new setting in the heart of the Princeton community. Every day is different, and there is always something new and exciting. It is important, too, that we will be working again with different partners in the community, supporting organizations and charities.”

Triumph Restaurant & Brewery is open Monday through Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 to 11p.m., and Sunday 4 to 9 p.m. Reservations are recommended for the Main Dining Room. For further information, call (609) 924-7855 or visit the website at triumphbrew.com.