Plans for Triumph Brewery to move from Nassau Street into the former U.S. Post Office branch on Palmer Square are inching closer to reality. Last week, Princeton’s Site Plan Review Advisory Board (SPRAB) met to review LCOR Ventures’ proposal for Triumph to operate a 300-seat restaurant at the site. The main entrance would be on Palmer Square East, where the former loading dock was located.

SPRAB approved the plan, with certain reservations, and referred it to the Planning Board, which will consider the issue next month. In the meantime, the Princeton Environmental Commission is scheduled to review the proposal on June 26, and the town’s Historical Commission will discuss the plan on June 29.

SPRAB, which includes architects Rob Cerutti and William Wolfe among its members, was enthusiastic about the submitted design. But worries about where diners would park were paramount. “All of us on SPRAB had a concern about parking,” said Mr. Cerutti, who is vice-chair of the board. “How do you put a 300-seat restaurant in the middle of town and not address that?”

Jack West, Princeton’s land use engineer, said that concern was shared by the municipal staff. According to those representing the proposal, the site’s proximity to three parking garages would take care of the parking requirements.

It has been nearly four years since California businessman David Eichler won the bidding for the landmark property, which served as Princeton’s post office for 78 years before moving to 259 Nassau Street in 2015. Plans for Triumph Brewery to be housed in the space were announced last year. Several issues, involving easements encroaching on municipal property and protected state park land, have stalled final approval of the deal.

Mr. Eichler has said the historic look of the building will be retained. The former post office is listed on the state and national registers of historic places. A 1939 mural on one wall, “America Under the Palms” by Karl Free, has inspired controversy over the years because of the way it depicts Native Americans. It will remain on display and be incorporated into the design of the restaurant.

The only major change to the
building is the renovation of the former loading dock, which will be replaced by a glass entrance. “They are doing a great improvement to the Palmer Square East facade,” said Mr. Cerutti. “The whole design is fairly tastefully done. We had suggestions on how to improve the streetscape in terms of trees and benches, and actually widening the street so they could have delivery trucks there and someone could still come up the middle to get in.”

The former main hall of the post office will become the dining room. The basement and former mail sorting area will also be used. The Princeton firms Mills + Schnoering Architects and Richardson Smith Architects have been working on the plan. Mills + Schnoering has been responsible for the exterior, and Richardson Smith has been involved in the design for the interior.

The Planning Board is expected to review the proposal at its meeting on Thursday, July 13.