By Cathy Wilson
Every time I drive by The Abbey on Madison Avenue in Morris Township (which is often — I live nearby), I can’t help wondering what Restoration Hardware executives are thinking.
Is it possible they think no one notices (or cares) that RH has allowed this property to deteriorate into an unkept and overgrown mess?
Or – more likely – is it possible they’re spared daily exposure to this unsavory field of weeds because they don’t live or work in our community? Out of sight, out of mind?
Chances are good that I may have a more extensive history with The Abbey than anyone on RH’s current management team.
Going back to 2020, when RH’s proposal for repurposing The Abbey first came up, as mayor that year, I personally devoted countless hours to this project. I believed in its value to our community. So did many others.
It’s hard for me to believe that any current RH executive had any involvement with these early planning efforts. If they did, they’d surely feel as mortified by what’s happened to this property as I do.
I am reminded almost daily of the difference between RH’s initial vision for The Abbey and the present-day reality it’s become. The contrast is stark.
I’ll never forget the “vision presentation” that RH shared with the community on Sept. 3, 2020. This was no ordinary presentation. COVID was at its peak. Indoor meetings were prohibited.
Scores of residents watched this presentation – not from the meeting room, but from lawn chairs in the parking lot at Town Hall. Content was projected via large screen TV’s and loudspeakers. Making these arrangements was no small challenge. I remember feeling grateful it didn’t rain.
One of the most attractive features of RH’s proposal (at least for me) was its commitment to preserving the history of The Abbey, a.k.a. Alnwick Hall – and its expertise in this field.
RH’s presentation that night pointed out the structure’s architectural connection to Alnwick Castle in Scotland…
It included the following description:
“Our Vision for Morris Township
To create an architecturally inspiring estate that blurs the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality
One that activates all of the senses and attracts luxury customers to our home furnishing and design gallery”
It also included a rendering of what the company’s vision of what “RH Alnwick Hall” might look like:
Outside of the immediate neighbors — whose very understandable concerns I and many others worked super hard to address — community support for this plan was generally widespread and enthusiastic. People were excited about the future it envisioned.
Six years later, here’s what the Abbey looks like today.
From the front:
From Canfield Road – looking east:
From the back — as viewed from the single-family property adjacent to the Abbey that RH also purchased. Note the neglect on that property as well.
Can you imagine any images more at odds with RH’s vision and brand? Not exactly catalogue material…
RH’s well documented financial woes do not tell the whole story here. In the last two years alone, RH has mustered the resources to open facilities in several other locations. For reasons unknown, RH has chosen to ignore Morris Township and turn its attention elsewhere.
While I understand the need to make hard choices, I am not okay with neglect.
There must be a back story here. Clearly RH has encountered significant and unanticipated difficulties of its own.
While I’m sympathetic to what’s it’s like to deal with overload, I’m not okay with neglect.
RH needs to wake up and pay attention to what’s going on in Morris Township. Allowing The Abbey to deteriorate into the embarrassing eyesore it’s become is completely unacceptable.
At a minimum, RH needs to mow the lawn, trim the weeds, fix the fences, and remove the debris. And do so on a regular basis.
This is the least RH can do to show basic respect, not just for Morris Township, but for itself.
Cathy Wilson is a retired educator and former Morris Township mayor, committeewoman and planning board member.
Opinions expressed in commentaries are the authors’ and do not necessarily represent those of this publication.
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I was saddened to see what appears to be the rotting corpse of the Abbey when I saw it last month. I have long thought it was the most interesting building on Madison Avenue, and I would make a point pf looking for it as I drove past. I was also a fan of RH, whose shops used to have all kinds oddities and googahs, until they turned into some kind of overpriced linens shop. Their proposed bar/retail shop plan seemed rather pie in the sky at the time, but I’m dissapointed we didn’t get to see how it ended up.
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It will be a priority in the Talarico, Grizzetti and Biehl township committee campaign!
I couldn’t agree more that this is a terrible waste of a beautiful building. If AH can’t use it properly, why not sell it? Why let it sit there and rot? I drive by it several times a week and am always dismayed to see it falling into disrepair. The longer it sits, the more expensive it becomes to bring it back to life. Can the Township step in?
Read this article for the history of the Abbey and the development efforts:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MorrisTwp/s/QlsUMoj7mF
We all know what’s going on. Ignore any questions, leave everything alone until the building becomes too far gone to repair / renovate. And suddenly there is a ” High Density” plan put forward by the ” new owners”. And it will be rubber stamped ” Approved”
Thank you for this article. I live around the corner and my wife and I have to look at this mess every day. I have complained to my morris township representative many times. Once in a while they will cut the grass/weeds Not sure if it is the town or the company. If the company refuses to take care of the property, the town should take over and bill Rg. What a disgrace to the neighborhood and morris township.
As I recall RH purchased the liquor license formerly held by Hunan Chinese Room on the Morris Plains side of Morris Township, near Hanover Ave. I believe their plan was to develop The Abbey as a kind of combination wine bar and furniture store. Do they still own that license and, if so, can they just keep it dormant? And why would they?
Why not turn it into an Arts Center or Museum of the Gilded Age of Morristown.
Long gone from the old hometown and totally shocked to see this. Heartbreaking.
RH is building a whole new showroom in the short hills mall. I think they have completely abandoned these plans here.
Separately – I think someone should buy it to build condos (some in the existing abbey, and a new building attached. Kind of like vail mansion. That seems like it would be the highest and best use for the site
Fabulous commentary piece! Just moved here and wondered about this!
This use of The Abbey should never have been approved. After it was a show home one year (which we toured and loved), it should have been preserved as a museum. Now that Restoration Hardware has abandoned it, the township should take it back by eminent domain and restore it. I know you can never predict the future, but with RH’s shaky finances now and even back in 2020, this seems like a probable outcome that has now come to light. I’m hoping Committee Member candidates Rothman, Godwin and Lyon make this a priority in their campaigns.