Owner of Popular N.J. Restaurant Accused of Hiding Thousands in Sales Tax, Officials Say

The former owner of a popular Cherry Hill restaurant was charged with intentionally underpaying sales tax. Authorities say they monitored the closed restaurant before its bankruptcy this year.

According to state investigators, Andrew Cosenza Jr., 57, owner of The Bistro at Cherry Hill in the Cherry Hill Mall, took sales tax but didn’t pay it The Division of Taxation worried about Cosenza’s tax returns not matching state payments in mid-2023.

The investigation found Cosenza missed 2021 and 2022 taxes. His state grand jury charged him with one theft count for not returning money, eight false tax returns, and eight unpaid taxes.

Cosenza hasn’t addressed the allegations because he has no lawyer.

The Cherry Hill Bistro had problems pre-indictment. Bankruptcy closed the restaurant this summer. Money issues plagued it for years. Cosenza owed $360,000 in rent and leases after its May 2017 bankruptcy.

Established in 1998, the mall’s main corridor Bistro closed in July. Longtime customers thought the sudden closure would solve their financial problems, but the new fees show otherwise.

In state court, prosecutors will examine the restaurant’s last financial records.

Sources

State Office of the Attorney General
New Jersey Division of Taxation
Cherry Hill Mall public records (bankruptcy filings)