After 211 Years In Operation Chester's Publick House Up For Sale

CHESTER, NJ - It survived wars, one pandemic, a great depression a great recession but COVID-19 was the fatal blow to the Publick House, a staple on Main Street since 1810. The historic restaurant, closed since last year, is now for sale for $3.95 million dollars.

Before the American Revolution and continuing into the next century Chester Township was an important stagecoach stop on the trip from New York, New Brunswick, and Morristown to Phillipsburg. The Publik House was built in 1810 as a place of “fancy” public accommodations, although there were still many Inns and Taverns that took in drovers and itinerants.

Main Street itself sprouted up around the landmark property that at the intersection of Hillside Road and Main Street. Main Street from Cross Roads to this intersection with Budd Avenue had been opened up as the Washington Turnpike by Isaiah Fairclo, a Tory who returned from Canada after the Revolution, to inherit much of the land in the center of the village. Jacob Drake, Jr., of the Cross Roads Tavern, and his son Zephaniah, who operated two taverns in the village center, built the all-brick building to accommodate travelers. The younger Drake also operated a stage line.

Originally called the Zephaniah Drake Brick Hotel, the building served as a tavern and hotel, with a few closures for renovations and other endeavors, until 2020. For example, it was a stagecoach stop for years and in 1854 William Rankin added two wings and turned the tavern into the Chester Institute, a classical college preparatory school. From then 1870 on the property functioned as a hotel and restaurant.

The building was registered in 1940 under the National Historic Registry as a “historic American building.”

Currently, the property sits with fronting on Main Street (Route 24) with immediate access to Route 206, which leads to Routes 80, 287 and 78. The 2.4 acre property includes parking for guests and patrons. The restaurant is fully equipped and is in excellent condition, according to the realtor. The hotel rooms, with elevator, are expertly decorated and show very well, the listing noted.

Fast Facts

• Property Type: Retail
• Property Subtype: Restaurant
• Building Size: 18,480 SF
• Tenancy: Single
• Building Height: 3 Stories

Property Taxes

• Parcel Number: 06-00107-0000-00017
• Improvements Assessment: $1,475,000
• Land Assessment: $850,000
• Total Assessment: $2,325,000

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