By: Audrey Levine and Eileen Oldfield
For the next two years, Pheasants Landing will continue to operate from its Amwell Road location, but the title will be sold to a new owner during that time, current Pheasants Landing owner Heinz Keller said.
"Nothing has been sold yet," Mr. Keller said. "For the next two years, nothing will change at Pheasants Landing. This is only a matter of a property title transfer to a new entity that will go into catering in two years."
To expand a catering business currently located at the Westwood in Garwood, Joseph Scalzadonna, managing member of Jon-Cin Holding of Hillsborough LLC, is planning to close a deal to purchase Pheasants Landing on Amwell Road, and intends to turn the site into a catering hall. "We are in the catering business, and wanted to expand Westwood to open another place," he said, adding that he is not sure whether he will change the name of Pheasants Landing or keep it. "We thought it would be advantageous to open another place."
This work, Mr. Scalzadonna said, is about expanding Westwood and the catering service it provides. He said it already has six banquet halls, but his company wanted to expand the business to open another location.
Mr. Scalzadonna said he heard about Pheasants Landing through a broker who informed him the business was up for sale. After looking into Hillsborough, he said, he decided it would provide a great opportunity for expansion.
"Hillsborough is a good place because of its demographics," he said. "The median income is high, and this was a good opportunity to expand in that area. We thought the place had a lot of potential."
Mr. Keller originally opened the restaurant in 2002 inside a building that had been closed since 1995. The restaurant features American meals as well as traditional European dishes, and seats more than 350 people.
The proceedings to make the purchase, Mr. Scalzadonna said, began about a year ago, and he has since gone before the Board of Adjustment to get site plan approval for a renovation and expansion of Pheasants Landing. Basically, he said, the company is planning to close down the actual restaurant portion of Pheasants Landing within two years, and keep only the catering portion.
"But the current owner will operate the restaurant for two years," he said. "That is part of the deal." The plan, Mr. Scalzadonna said, is to demolish the current restaurant, and build a new banquet hall to accommodate 375 people. In addition, he said, although he will be keeping the current banquet hall, it will be renovated.
Aside from this, Mr. Scalzadonna said, he is planning a new entranceway and area for cocktail parties, in addition to a garden for outside ceremonies.
"We thought this place had a lot of potential," he said. "But we are going to do a major renovation and expansion."
At this point, Mr. Scalzadonna said, he will have to return to the Board of Adjustment for final site plan approval, which will be done during the two-year period the restaurant remains open. After that period of time, he said, the renovation will begin.
"We are planning to do a very nice renovation and expansion that will fit into the area," he said. "I am hoping it will have a positive impact on the area, and hope people will react favorably."
Still, the restaurant offerings will remain the same for now, according to Mr. Keller.
"For the next two years, everything will stay status quo," Mr. Keller said. "I’ll still be running with the restaurant. It’ll be the same delicious food, same good parties, and good functions."

