Future still uncertain for former site of The Manor in West Orange a year after it closed

A year after The Manor in West Orange announced its impending closure, the future remains uncertain for the site of the longtime township landmark.

The restaurant, catering hall and wedding venue made the announcement on its website on Feb. 2, 2023. An official with the facility cited impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and other "unforeseen circumstances" in explaining the decision to close.

"As a building, The Manor has had a full life even before our ownership and we expect that new opportunities will arise in whatever format that may take," read the website statement from the Knowles family, which has owned the facility for more than 60 years.

Since closing for good on July 5, the site has been quiet, at least publicly.

There have been "no formal submissions" to the Land Use Board, West Orange Police Chief and interim Business Administrator James Abbott said in an email to NorthJersey.com last week. Multiple attempts to reach the Knowles family were unsuccessful.

Property records show that The Manor sits on more than 8 acres on Prospect Avenue and was last assessed at $11.23 million.

Since opening on New Year's Eve in 1956, the catering hall hosted hundreds of weddings and receptions along with a variety of other celebrations and special events. In 1975, it was the site of a champagne brunch hosted by then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan before his presidential run.

The Manor was founded by Harry Knowles, who purchased a three-room restaurant on the property and expanded the business over the next 30 years. He died in 2021 at age 97.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: The Manor in West Orange NJ site still has uncertain future