New wedding/event center unveiled in former Buffalo Township landmark restaurant

Monarch Veil, a new multi-venue wedding and event space, is open on the grounds of the former J-Barn Country Inn in Buffalo Township.

Dean and Janae McAfee purchased the popular rural restaurant last year and opened for business this month.

The J-Barn, once known as Jardine’s, closed in 2018. After purchasing the property for $400,000, the McAfees spent months remodeling and renovating the buildings and grounds.

“This is something we’ve dreamed about for so long,” said Dean McAfee, who has worked more than 15 years in the wedding industry as a DJ. “Once we found out the iconic status of this place, we wanted to make it enjoyable for people.”

McAfee founded Pittsburgh DJ Company in 2006. The DJ collective books about 250 weddings annually, among other events.

The couple, who live in Emsworth, have been married for 15 years; he’s a former Heinz logistics executive and she still works as a pharmacist. They’ve been on the hunt around the Pittsburgh area for a venue property to purchase for about a decade.

After encountering what they described as “too much red tape” in Allegheny County, they moved their search to Butler County.

The McAfees said they chose Monarch Veil for a name because, to them, it means “hidden gem.”

Hearthstone Hall is the first space to open on the property. It occupies the former J-Barn restaurant, which once accommodated more than 300 diners.

Named for the large original field stone fireplace inside the building, Hearthstone Hall offers an industrial farmhouse vibe with original wood and stone from the J-Barn. The space features a private bridal suite, a dining area for 120 guests, a bar and two separate rooms.

Two other indoor venues are on deck: The Cardinal House, for smaller gatherings, and The Arcadian, a ballroom space suitable for crowds of up to 300.

The Cardinal House is expected to be completed in a few weeks. It will accommodate 40-60 people and rents for $700 to $900. Renovations for the Arcadian, the former site of a chicken coop, are underway.

Wedding packages at Hearthstone Hall begin at $4,900. Customers can select from recommended vendors or hire their own caterers, bartenders and more.

The McAfees said locals from the area continue to stop by frequently, inquiring about their new business.

“We saw an opportunity to bring back this beautiful facility with a new purpose,” Dean McAfee said.

The couple will hire an event manager as the business grows.

“Our goal is to make your wedding or event an effortlessly perfect one,” Janae McAfee said.

Her mother, Tammera Black, helped the couple with decorating and other design decisions. They salvaged the old J-Barn sign that once hung outside along the road and plan to hang it inside Hearthstone Hall.

Customer loyalty runs deep at the former J-Barn. Fox Chapel resident Verne Bergstrom, originally from Buffalo Township, said he grew up dining there.

“I’m happy to see there’s something being used in the old J-Barn facility. Too bad it’s not the original J-Barn with their delicious menu, but I’m happy there’s some type of event venue for the growing Buffalo Township area. Let’s hope that it thrives,” Bergstrom said.

The McAfees said they encountered many timeline challenges, starting with cleaning the long-vacant buildings.

“This place was closed for three years. It took a lot of elbow grease. We scrubbed every last inch of this place,” said Janae McAfee. “We had a helluva time getting contractors because of covid.”

Former J-Barn owner Jim Walsh said he’s happy to see a business on the property up and running again.

“I’m thrilled to pieces that Dean is carrying on a new tradition of what was Jardine’s and then J-Barn. I had no doubt someone would make it work again,” said Walsh, 78, of Buffalo Township. “He’s young and energetic and I wish him the best.