In 2024, customers in Central Pennsylvania bid farewell to almost a dozen eateries.
Neato Burrito in Swatara Township and Cafe Magnolia in Lower Allen Township, two longtime favorites, were particularly heavily impacted.
Naturally, a large number of new restaurants entered the market, contributing to the constantly changing restaurant scene.
The following are a few of the most noteworthy conclusions:
In Camp Hill, friendly
In September, Friendly’s restaurant, located at 3125 Market St. in Camp Hill, closed after forty years.
Friends, take note! According to a notice on the restaurant’s entrance, “We regret to inform you that this location will be closing its doors for the last time this Sunday.” We will really miss you guys, and it was a blast while it lasted.
Constructed in the late 1980s, the eatery was one of just a few in the area. Several of the eateries, notably ones in Derry Township and Lower Paxton Township, have closed in recent years.
The site will host a Turning Point Restaurant franchise by the following year. The chain’s motto is “where friends and family gather,” and it offers breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
This September, the Fyre Lounge & Bar at Lower Paxton Township’s Colonial Park Mall closed.Gleiter, Sue
The Fyre Lounge
On November 2, the Fyre Lounge & Bar at Lower Paxton Township’s Colonial Park Mall closed.
The facility opens in the old Buffalo Wild Wings in the fall of 2023. Its menu combined American, Indian, and Nepali flavors, and the venue had a laid-back atmosphere with a dance floor, bar, and big-screen TV.
The idea was developed with the help of six partners, including brothers Rick and Kamal Collotia, who had previously owned Harrisburg’s Lucky 7 Tavern. The food of Fyre Lounge was influenced by the four partners the brothers brought in, all of whom were Nepali immigrants.
According to Rick Collotia, they closed to concentrate on their other ventures and are seeking a new owner to assume the lease and liquor license for the restaurant.
Little John’s Diner
November saw the closure of Little John’s Diner, located at 146 Sheraton Drive in Fairview Township, off of Interstate 83 in York County.
The restaurant’s lease expired in late December, and the landlord found a new tenant, according to a Facebook post. (In November, Steve and Nicole Tawadrouse, the new tenants, established Beacon Hill Diner.)
“We will be regretfully closing our doors on November 6th after 15 years of proudly serving the central Pennsylvania community,” Little John’s owners wrote in the letter.We would like to express our gratitude to everyone for their love and support over the past 15 years, which has enabled us to realize our dream. Everyone will be missed!
Redd’s Barbecue (Hampden)
In November, Redd’s Smokehouse BBQ closed its location at 4890 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township and reduced staffing.
According to co-owner Nick Mauldin, he is concentrating on the Redd’s restaurant in Carlisle and growing his catering business. He claimed that managing two stores was a difficult undertaking once his business partner, Brent Burger, resigned.
Mckenna Mauldin, Mauldin’s wife, took over as a co-owner. The pair announced on Facebook on November 6 that Redd’s had made a decision that was both bittersweet and bittersweet.
They continued, “We are doing so with the mindset of how to continue providing our customers with the best possible service.”
Prior to Neato Burrito’s debut in the Scottsdale Plaza in Swatara Township, diners were photographed in March 2006. Sean Simmers | [email protected] took the file photo.Simmers, Sean
The Swatara Township’s Neato Burrito
At Neato Burrito in Swatara Township, Cowboy Crunch burritos are no longer available.
Due to the state taking possession of the site for their highway construction project, the Scottsdale Plaza restaurant located at 3370 Paxton St. had to close at the end of July.
A sign inside the restaurant read, “We opened the shop in March 2006 and appreciate all the support from the community over the past 18 years.”
As part of the $1 billion I-83 Capital Beltway Project, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is using eminent domain to acquire dozens of businesses and residential properties, including Neato Burrito.
Yeti Yak N.
The Carlisle restaurant Yak n Yeti, located at 49 W. High St., which served delectable Himalayan food to central Pennsylvania, will close on December 29.
Tenzin Norbu, the owner, described the choice as challenging, saying, “It has been a bittersweet decision and it’s one we didn’t make lightly.”
The eatery was an offshoot of New Cumberland’s first Norbu’s Yak n Yeti. Its Nepalese and Bhutanese cuisine soon made it a favorite among diners in the Harrisburg area.
Barleys and Hops
Owner Jason Melhorn stated in a Facebook post that the eatery and bar located at 398 N. York St. in Mechanicsburg will close on November 8.
Serving the community for the past five years has been a privilege. We regret to inform you that Friday, November 8th, will be our last day of business, he said.
In addition, Melhorn runs Benaiah’s Wood Fired Kitchen in Lower Paxton Township, The Beerded Goat Brewing Co., and Hops & Barleys restaurants in Middletown and Lower Paxton Township.
Hanna’s Shop for Ice Cream
In August, a 1950s-themed ice cream shop in New Cumberland shuttered.
The sale of Hanna’s Ice Cream Shop, located at 321 Bridge St., was publicized on Facebook.
To our esteemed Hanna’s customers: Please read the message below for an update on Hanna’s situation throughout the past few weeks since it began.
Chef Tony’s Bistro
According to a Facebook post, Chef Tony’s Bistroat, located at 5948 Linglestown Road in Lower Paxton Township, closed on September 20.
We shall miss our position in Linglestown terribly, and this decision has been bittersweet. According to the letter, we sincerely thank everyone who helped us during this particular phase of our trip.
In October 2023, executive chef Tony Glass founded the eatery in a former church.
Magnolia Cafe
In February, the eatery located at 4700 Old Gettysburg Road in Lower Allen Township shuttered without warning.
The BYOB cafe was well-known for its charming setting and menu, which included salads, sandwiches, and supper fare. It was a well-liked location for birthday celebrations and bridal showers.
Owner Jackie Duval expressed her grief about the decision, saying, “We treasure the time spent with our devoted customers and the community.”
Duval, who assumed control in 2019, explained the closure by pointing to economic changes and the pandemic’s aftereffects.
By fall, the facility was transformed into Baconi Trattoria & Wine Bar by new owners.
Italian restaurant Dolce Vita
In Cumberland County, a popular Italian eatery shuttered its doors in the spring.
Regulars praised the Italian cuisine, the service, and the quaint setting in a former house.
According to Nino Basic, the property owner, Mario and Maria Lubrano abandoned the Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant located at 1509 Market St. in Camp Hill. Basic, who runs New Cumberland’s Carpe Diem restaurant, stated that he has no idea why the Lubranos chose to leave the company.
Restaurant Hickory Ridge
In February, Cumberland County saw the closure of a family-friendly comfort food restaurant.
The sale of Hickory Ridge Restaurant, located at 1400 Harrisburg Pike in Middlesex Township, was announced on Facebook.
We want to express our profound gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to all of the friends we have made over the past five years! “The post stated.” We would like to thank our incredible team for making it all possible, as well as all of our wonderful customers!
The establishment relocated its catering business to the Chambersburg location of Hickory Ridge, which is still functioning.
The Honey Bee’s Cafe and Bakery
In March, Honey Bee’s Cafe and Bake Shop, located at 620 N. Second St., closed.
Even though it is really painful for us, we are at a loss for what to do. According to the founders, we are incredibly grateful for all of the friends we have met and your support of our small business.
In February 2023, Honey Bee’s launched for business.After her family shut down The Kitchen Table catering company in Lower Paxton Township in late 2022, Melissa Laughlin became the proprietor of the restaurant.
Earlier this year, the Hoss’s Steak & Sea House restaurant, located in Swatara Township at 9009 Bridge Road, off Route 322, closed.
Dan Gleiter’s file photo | [email protected]@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter
The Steak and Sea House of Hoss
In February, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, located off Route 322 in Swatara Township, closed.
The building located at 9009 Bridge Road is under contract to be purchased by Wawa. Plans to construct a store with petrol pumps at the site were submitted to Swatara Township by the convenience store business last year.
It was a true pleasure to serve you, and we are grateful to the amazing community for their long-term support,” stated Billie Jo Walls, president of Hoss.
When Hoss’s first opened in 1992, it suffered catastrophic flooding-related damage at least once.
Kondu
In January, Swatara Township’s Japanese fast-casual eatery shuttered.
The Harrisburg Mall’s renovation was linked to the closure of the eatery, which served teppanyaki and build-your-own sushi bowls and burritos.The 60-acre land is being redeveloped into a mixed-use development called Swatara Exchange by its owners, St. John Properties.
Stories by
Sue Gleiter
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