For almost 60 years, families flocked to Morris County for country-style turkey feasts, making it a popular Thanksgiving getaway.
According to its owner, the long-closed Larison’s Turkey Farm Inn property in Chester Borough has been for sale since 2022 for $3 million.
The Chester Historical Society reports that the inn closed in 2001, reopened in 2002, then closed again in 2005. It was reopened as the Puddingstone Inn in 2007 and changed its name to Larison’s Steakhouse in 2008 before closing in 2009.
However, the proprietor stated that he is not giving up on a restaurateur reintroducing dining to the establishment.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to eat turkey for Thanksgiving again in 2025?” asked Robert Berlant, managing member of Global Acquisition Company LLC.
If it occurs, it would be a significant improvement for one of the most noticeable locations in Morris County, as it is near Routes 206 and 24. Beginning in 2000 with plans to either move or demolish the restaurant and install a CVS and bank, extensive redevelopment concepts for the three-acre Larison’s property and the roughly two dozen acres surrounding it have been proposed and abandoned for more than 20 years.
In addition to renovating Larison’s, Chester Borough officials approved a plan in 2018 that included a CVS, office space, and 36 units of affordable housing. But when CVS opted not to move forward four years later, the plan fell apart, according to Edward Ng, president of the historical society.
According to him, a second concept that involved housing and Wawa was put out in 2023 but is still being discussed.
Larison’s is still available for purchase in the interim.
The Larison’s site and adjacent 23 acres, which are not for sale, were purchased by Global Acquisitions Company LLC in October 2020, according to Berlant.
Larison’s is named after Ruth and Willis Larison, a local couple who began converting the 19th-century house into a restaurant in 1945 and operated it for the following thirty years.
On November 23, 2000, guests at Larison’s Turkey Farm Inn in Chester, New Jersey, savor Thanksgiving dinner.SL
According to a 1983 brochure from Larison’s that the historical organization was able to get, the restaurant served about 125 people for its first Thanksgiving, shortly after World War II ended. A Thanksgiving turnout of 1,800 was the standard forty years later.
The 59-year-old Berlant claimed that he first visited Larison’s as a child and continued to do so as an adult. He remembered children occupying themselves outside on the three-acre site as families waited for two hours or more to secure places at the long tables inside the restaurant.
The children would feed the turkeys while running around the back. According to Berlant, it resembled a restaurant and a zoo.
Although there were many options on the old Larison’s menu, such as ham steaks and shellfish, turkey was always the star. Turkey tetrazzini, an Italian-inspired meal served with linguini, turkey croquettes, turkey pot pie, turkey chow mein, turkey mornay served within a casserole with broccoli and cheese sauce, and hot turkey sandwiches were all available.
Larison’s is still most known for its classic Thanksgiving turkey meal, which includes mashed potatoes, coleslaw, stuffing, glazed carrots, peas with onions, and dessert. According to The Star-Ledger at the time, on Thanksgiving Day of 2004, some 1,500 people flocked to the eatery, which was staffed by waiters dressed as pilgrims.
According to Berlant, the restaurant had a very convivial vibe.
Suppose your family consisted of four or six people. You didn’t seat at a four- or six-person table. Their tables were rather long. According to Berlant, you have to meet people.
According to him, kids didn’t mind the usually lengthy wait to be seated because there was so much to do outside.
This was simply unique. According to Berlant, that’s what made it so exceptional.
According to Berlant, he expects a new owner to maintain a significant amount of the original structure while doing some rebuilding.
Those are the wishes of the town. “I am carrying out those desires,” Berlant stated.
There are alternative options if it doesn’t draw a restaurant.
According to Berlant, it might be an antique store.
Stories by
Rob Jennings
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