Max Hansen plans to open his new event venue and catering business in Hopewell next year

Bucks County chef Max Hansen, owner of Max Hansen Caterer, has announced that he will open his new event venue and catering business on Carter Road in Hopewell Township in the summer of 2022.

The new space, originally slated to open in 2017, will be called the Princeton Farmhouse. It will be located on a portion of a former biotech campus at 328 Carter Road in Hopewell Township. The 25,000-square-foot venue will have a full-service liquor license and will be able to accommodate up to 300 guests for weddings, corporate events, and other gatherings. Hansen said the pre-existing approved plans for the property are being revised. He said the reason for the revisions is to accommodate new requirements for coronavirus protocols. The zoning board for Hopewell Township granted variances for the original project in January of 2016.

Hansen, who has been a caterer in the region for more than 25 years, said he hopes to fill what he sees as a long-standing void when it comes to event space in the Princeton area. “I believe that our farmhouse venue will provide a world-class event space worthy of the community,” he said in his announcement about the 2022 opening plans.

The building is being designed by Studio Hillier. Construction will begin late this summer, with completion slated for the summer of 2022. The Princeton Farmhouse will include a full-service catering and event facility, a commissary kitchen, and offices. The roof will be raised to create an airy modern structure. Hansen said the new design will have “the look and feel of a New England farm compound with a Princeton aesthetic.” A large deck for outdoor events will offer views of a pond.

Hansen said he will partner with several local farms, including Cherry Grove Farms, Terhune Orchards, and Blue Moon Acres, to provide local ingredients for his menus.

“The Princeton Farmhouse is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me and for my team,” said Hansen. “I’ve been working my entire career to build this type of premier facility, and I cannot wait to serve our guests from Princeton and beyond next summer.”