It was a beloved Thanksgiving destination in Morris County for nearly 60 years, with families lining up for country-style turkey dinners.
The long-closed Larison’s Turkey Farm Inn site in Chester Borough has been on the market since 2022 with an asking price of $3 million, according to its owner.
The inn first closed in 2001, reopened in 2002 and closed for a second time in 2005, according to the Chester Historical Society. It was revived in 2007 as the Puddingstone Inn and, in 2008, became Larison’s Steakhouse before shutting down in 2009.
But, the owner said he is not giving up on a restauranteur bringing dining back to the property.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate Thanksgiving in 2025 feasting on turkey once again,” said Robert Berlant, managing member of Global Acquisition Company LLC.
If that happens, it would represent a remarkable turnaround for one of Morris County’s most visible locations, by Routes 206 and 24. Wide-ranging redevelopment proposals for the three-acre Larison’s site and the approximately two dozen acres by it have been floated and abandoned for more than two decades, starting in 2000 with a plan to either move or demolish the restaurant and build a CVS and bank.
In 2018, officials in Chester Borough agreed to a plan for a CVS, office space and 36 units of affordable housing, in addition to refurbishing Larison’s. However, the plan fell apart four years later when CVS decided not to proceed, said Edward Ng, the historical society’s president.
A second proposal, involving Wawa and housing, was made in 2023 but remains under discussion, he said.
In the meantime, Larison’s is still on the market.
Global Acquisitions Company LLC acquired the Larison’s site and neighboring 23 acres, which is not for sale, in October 2020, Berlant said.
Larison’s is named for a local couple, Ruth and Willis Larison, who converted the 19th century house into a restaurant starting in 1945 and ran the business for the next three decades.
Around 125 were served for the restaurant’s first Thanksgiving, not long after the end of World War II, according to a 1983 pamphlet from Larison’s obtained by the historical society. Four decades later, a Thanksgiving crowd of 1,800 was the norm.
Berlant, 59, said he was introduced to Larison’s as a child and continued visiting as an adult. He recalled families waiting for two hours or longer to snag seats along the long tables inside the restaurant, with children passing the time outside on the three-acre property.
“The kids would run around the back and feed the turkeys. It was almost like a restaurant meets a zoo,” Berlant said.
While the vintage Larison’s menu had a wide range of selections, including seafood and ham steaks, turkey was always the main draw. There was the hot turkey sandwich, turkey croquettes, turkey pot pie, turkey chow mein, turkey mornay — served inside a casserole with broccoli and cheese sauce — and turkey tetrazzini, an Italian-inspired dish served with linguini.
Larison’s remains most closely identified with its traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner, featuring stuffing, glazed carrots, peas with onions, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and dessert. On Thanksgiving Day in 2004, approximately 1,500 gathered at the restaurant, served by waiters dressed as pilgrims, The Star-Ledger reported at the time.
The restaurant had a very social feel, Berlant said.
“Let’s say you were a family of four or six. You didn’t sit at a table of four or six. They had these really long tables. You got to meet people,” Berlant said.
He said there was so much to do outside that children did not mind the typically long wait to be seated.
“This was just one of a kind. That’s what made it very special,” Berlant said.
Berlant said his expectation is that a new owner would do some rebuilding while keeping a “major portion” of the existing structure.
“The town has expressed those wishes. I am honoring those wishes,” Berlant said.
If it does not attract a restaurant, there are other possibilities.
“It could be an antique shop,” Berlant said.
Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust.
Rob Jennings may be reached at [email protected].