John Serock has had his eye on Loch Aerie Mansion for two decades. He first saw the historic Malvern estate in 2006 and wanted to buy it, but the price wasn’t right. When it went to auction in 2016, he had to pass again. In May, he finally got his chance, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Serock, owner and CEO of West Chester-based John Serock Catering, purchased the 161-year-old mansion at 700 Lancaster Ave. for more than $4 million through Loch Aerie Partners, a group that includes several investors. The deal combined ownership of the property, which sold for $3 million, with the venue’s operating business.
“I don’t foresee this being a one and done,” he said. “I hope to eventually purchase a few properties over the next couple of years, but only when it’s the right situation, and we’ll take one day at a time.”
John Serock Catering has served as Loch Aerie Mansion’s exclusive caterer since the property reopened as a wedding and events destination in 2020 under previous owners Steven and Dana Poirier.
They purchased the estate in 2016 and completed a major restoration, including adding a 4,800-square-foot ballroom and Serock helped guide that process.
Built in 1865 for Philadelphia businessman William E. Lockwood, the Italianate Gothic Revival mansion architectural treasures of Chester County. It featuring multiple ceremony spaces, gardens, bridal suites, and a cupola with views of the surrounding countryside.
Serock plans to honor all existing bookings, with about 60 events on the calendar for 2026 and reservations already heading into 2028.
Future improvements include a new centralized sound system and enhanced acoustics, all upgrades designed to attract more corporate and nonprofit clients beyond the venue’s current wedding-heavy schedule. A liquor license application is also in the works, which would allow the mansion to handle its own bar services in-house.
For more on John Serock’s vision for the Loch Aerie Mansion venue and his plans to acquire additional properties, read the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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