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For decades, a drive into Chester meant passing the big white farmhouse at the corner of Routes 206 and 24, and for a lot of Morris County families it meant Thanksgiving dinner inside. Larison’s Turkey Farm Inn has been dark for years, but the corner is finally getting a second act. Alstede Farms, the family farm just up the road, plans to turn the original farmhouse into a country farm store called Alstede Fresh at Larison’s Corner, and the family has already started bringing the fields behind it back to life.
What Is Coming to Larison’s Corner
The new owners are not reopening the turkey dinner restaurant. Instead, Kurt and Mary Alstede and their daughters Rebekah and Sarah, who co-own the farm, are planning a full country store inside the historic building. Based on what the family has shared with Alstede Farms visitors and in an interview with New Jersey Monthly, the plans include:
- Fresh, locally grown produce and artisanal products
- A creamery with ice cream
- A walk up deli and a salad bar
- A scratch bakery and coffee
- A meat market
- Outdoor seating in Adirondack chairs, a nod to the lawn chairs where diners once waited for their tables
The Alstedes have a personal tie to the place. The family has said they ate at Larison’s with their grandparents, and Kurt told New Jersey Monthly that the restaurant served Alstede sweet corn for years.
The Farmland Is Coming Back Too
Behind the farmhouse sit about 14 acres of farmland that had gone largely unused. Alstede plans to farm much of it again, growing fruits, vegetables and flowers, with an eye toward supporting pollinators. The family has already been mowing and cleaning up the grounds and tidying the highly visible corner, so you may have noticed the property looking better on your way through town.
Part of a Bigger Plan for the Site
The farm store is one piece of a larger redevelopment. In February 2025, the Chester Borough Council voted to move forward with a settlement agreement with developer Global Acquisitions for the Larison property, replacing a 2018 plan that called for a CVS and a medical office building. According to the borough’s announcement, the current proposal includes:
- The Alstede farm market in the original portion of the Larison building, known as the Topping house
- 66 market rate townhomes at the Larison corner, developed by K. Hovnanian Homes
- 20 luxury townhomes on Mill Ridge Lane
- 24 affordable housing units
- A Chick-fil-A
The plan still needs court approval and a review by the borough’s Land Use Board, and the borough said that process was expected to take at least a year.
When Will It Open?
There is no opening date yet. Kurt Alstede has said the project will unfold over several years, and that the family wants to do it properly so the corner can thrive for decades after a long run of failed attempts to revive it. We will update this page as Alstede shares a timeline.
A Quick Look Back at Larison’s
The farmhouse dates to around 1800. Willis Larison bought the farm in 1945 and turned it into Larison’s Turkey Farm Inn, famous for family style turkey dinners with platters passed around the table, Tiffany lamps and mounted animals in the halls. The original restaurant served its last Thanksgiving in 2000, and after a few short lived revivals the building closed for good in 2009. The Chester Library’s local history exhibit has old postcards and stories from longtime residents if you want to take a trip down memory lane.
Visit Alstede Farms While You Wait
You do not have to wait for Larison’s Corner to get a taste of what is coming. Alstede Farms is open at 1 Alstede Farms Lane in Chester, with its farm store, pick your own fields and seasonal events like Harvest Moon Nights. For more ideas in town, see our guide to things to do in Chester, NJ and our picks for the best restaurants in Chester. Missing those turkey dinners this month? Our Thanksgiving in Morris County guide covers where to eat and where to order a farm turkey, and our farm guide rounds up the family farms around Chester and Long Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Larison’s Turkey Farm reopening as a restaurant?
No. The original farmhouse is planned to become Alstede Fresh at Larison’s Corner, a country farm store with produce, a deli, a bakery, coffee, a meat market and a creamery, plus outdoor seating.
Who is behind the new Larison’s Corner?
Alstede Farms of Chester, owned by Kurt and Mary Alstede and their daughters Rebekah and Sarah.
Where is Larison’s Turkey Farm?
At the corner of Routes 206 and 24 at the entrance to Main Street in Chester Borough, Morris County.
When will Alstede Fresh at Larison’s Corner open?
No date has been announced. The owners say the work will take several years, and the wider site plan still needs borough Land Use Board review.
Is a Chick-fil-A coming to the Larison’s property?
A Chick-fil-A is part of the redevelopment plan the Chester Borough Council advanced in February 2025, along with townhomes and affordable housing. It still needs final approvals.
Sources: Alstede Farms, Chester Borough, New Jersey Monthly and the Chester Library Local History Department. Featured image: photo courtesy of Alstede Farms.
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