As a family business, Stoltzfus Meats takes pride in our roots and the history of the company. It’s pretty neat to think about how one man’s bravery to try something new turned into the company we know and love today. The information from this post can also be found on the “Our Story” tab of our website, written by the current owner’s son, Zachary Stoltzfus, but for the sake of having information all in one place, we’ve decided to include it here on our blog as an official post, as well! So, let’s get to it…'
Amos S. Stoltzfus grew up Amish during the Great Depression. Every so often, his family would hold a “butchering day.” With twelve siblings, there were always plenty of hands to help. Working together, the family would slaughter and break down one or two hogs into sausage, bacon, hams, and scrapple. As a young man, Amos purchased the family farm and turned this yearly custom into a business.
In 1954 Amos Stoltzfus and his wife Mary started selling meats and other Lancaster County goods at the New Castle Farmer’s Market in New Castle, Delaware. The Farmer’s Market started shortly after World War II, located at a highly-trafficked corner a few miles outside of the Old Town of New Castle, on land once owned by the William Penn family. It was tough going at first and Amos wondered how much longer the business could survive. Mary encouraged him to “give it one more week.” That “one more week” ended up being the first of many profitable weeks, months, and years to come.
In the 1960s, Stoltzfus Meats expanded its customer base, product line, and facilities. After buying land from his father, Amos and his brother, Ben, built a small butcher shop to handle the growing demand for their delicious sausage, ham, and bacon. This is the current location of our production facility on Newport Road in Gordonville, PA (seen in lower right corner of the photo below). By 1966, a small retail store was attached to the butcher shop to supply local customers (the current location of our business office). Soon after, in 1968, a family-style restaurant (now closed and used as a beautiful event venue, Stoltzfus Homestead and Gardens) opened on the Stoltzfus homestead (pictured below). The butcher shop expanded in 1969 and 1971 to allow for an increase in production, which grew to 45 hogs slaughtered a week. Compare this to today’s volume of approximately 38,000 pounds of product produced every week!
Amos' sons followed him in the business, with his youngest son Myron taking the helm in 1996. Demand for Stoltzfus Meats’ quality products–using the same recipes created by Amos–continued to grow through the 1990s and 2000s. In 2008, a newly renovated market stand at the New Castle Farmer’s Market was built, followed in 2009 by a new retail store right in the heart of Intercourse (pictured below is Myron, the current owner, sharing a few words at the store opening). A restaurant–called “Amos’ Place”–was added to the new retail store in homage to our founder who passed away in 2007. Famous for his cheerful demeanor and oyster stew, Amos was beloved by employees, who he would see each Monday when mixing the spices for sausage. But in many ways, it was his wife Mary, who passed away in 1994, whose optimism and support is credited with keeping the business alive.
Led by our CEO, Myron Stoltzfus, and President, Travis Rohrer, Stoltzfus Meats continues to craft high-quality meats in the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. Guided by the tried-and-true recipes and standards of Amos, we create authentic and robust flavors loved by customers all over the world. Stoltzfus Meats now serves many retail stores, market stands, and restaurants throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region–including our original stand at the New Castle Farmer’s Market, where the same hand painted sign from 1954 still hangs.
Together with a passionate core of dedicated employees, loyal customers, and quality products, Stoltzfus Meats continues to grow, grounded in the past and confident in the future.
Well, there ya have it! The basics of the Stoltzfus Meats company. We would love to know if you have special memories of our different locations from over the years. We’re surprised and honored how many people still remember our retail location on Newport Road, as well as our family-style restaurant. If you haven’t been to our current retail locations, we hope you’ll check them out on our website. But even more, we hope you’ll stop by and visit us at Stoltzfus Meats!