The Chariot in Totowa

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A massive wedding and catering venue on in Passaic County is moving toward opening.

The Chariot has been years in the making and cost an estimated $25 million to build, according to NorthJersey.com.

Fortress Holdings, the company that owns The Chariot, filed for Chapter 11 protection on Jan. 30, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Bondoro reports. The filing says Fortress needed relief to prevent its lender from foreclosing and to complete the final stages of the project. According to the petition, the company reported $42 million in assets and $26.2 million in liabilities.

The documents describe The Chariot as an 80,000-square-foot facility spread across seven floors, featuring a Kosher kitchen, a rooftop restaurant, and event space built to host more than 600 guests. The properties include 555 Preakness Ave., 561 Preakness Ave., and 322–324 Berkshire Ave. in Totowa and Paterson.

The bankruptcy filing outlines years of challenges tied to an $11 million construction loan issued by Bogota Savings Bank. Records say the bank later demanded repayment and began foreclosure actions, which Fortress said made it harder to complete the venue or refinance in time.

While no official opening date has been announced, The Chariot has already begun advertising wedding bookings and announced a New Year's Eve celebration on its website.