Will It Ever Return?

"Will the Ryland Inn ever reopen?" People ask me this question all the time, along with two others: "Why is it taking so long?" and "When will it reopen?"

All valid questions, given that the Ryland, in Whitehouse Station, has been closed since February 19, 2007, when a water pipe burst, flooding the basement, knocking out heat and electricity and causing other pipes to burst.

I have been working night and day since then to repair and restore the damage. As reported in New Jersey Monthly in January of this year, I expected to have part of the 10-building, 10-acre complex up and running by now.

Here's where things stand:

After months and months of tackling due-diligence issues, my lawyer was finally able to issue a contract to sell the Ryland complex. The buyers agreed to refurbish the property and reopen it in stages that would eventually include a restaurant and other facilities.

The contract is under attorney review by the buyer. I cannot discuss the terms of the deal other than to say that I have agreed to remain involved in the business and that one of my conditions was that all gift certificates that were valid at the time of the flood will be honored.

To exacerbate things, the recent developments in the credit markets have slowed down all deals, no matter how strong. I apologize to any and all who have been inconvenienced by these delays.

I hope people will understand that, financially and otherwise, no one has been hurt by these events as much as my family and me.

I still believe the Ryland will reopen, but given the snags and surprises of the last fifteen months, I hesitate to say when.

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