The Brickerville House and its shops have become a dining/shopping destination. “People enjoy the restaurant’s historic atmosphere. They dine here and then visit the shops, or they’ll come shopping and then grab a bite to eat at the restaurant. It’s a great day out,” says George Agadis, who owns the restaurant with his brother, Tony.
The Garden Room was recently remodeled to better reflect the Colonial period to which the building dates. Tony Agadis, who oversees the kitchen, also enjoys the design process and took on the responsibility of transforming the space.
While the restaurant continues to be known as the Brickerville House, the shopping complex was recently rebranded as Bricker Village. The 14 locally owned shops offer a variety of products ranging from antiques, wine, chocolates, glass items, clothing and jewelry to such services as home decorating and photography. A salon/spa is also on the premises. The seasonal ice cream stand, Brickerville Ice Cream Shop, will be open through Labor Day. Of the rebranding, Tony’s wife, Halina, explains, “We wanted to increase awareness of the diverse community of businesses that call our property home. We also want people to realize that Brickerville House Restaurant is a member of a larger small business community.”
Located north of Lititz, the Brickerville House was built by John and Barbara Bricker in 1753. As it was located on the main road (now Route 322) that carried traffic between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, the original portion of the house served as a stagecoach stop and tavern. George Washington may not have eaten, drank or slept there, but local figures such as Peter Grubb and Henry William “Baron” Stiegel did. “People love the history,” George says.
The Brickerville House has served area diners for quite some time, and the Agadis brothers have made it their own since purchasing the restaurant in December 2008. “The restaurant property has been evolving since we bought it,” George notes. “Some of our regular guests dine with us two or three times a week. We also serve multiple generations of the same family, and we’ve seen kids who dined here with their parents grow up and now they’re bringing their own kids here.”
Both George and Tony grew up in the restaurant business in Manhattan, learning from the bottom up. Their father, Mike, owned a restaurant, and both brothers worked there. George earned an economics degree from New York University, and although he went into banking, the restaurant business was in his blood and he continued to wait tables and bartend on weekends. Tony fell in love with the kitchen. As a child, he could often be found in the kitchen with his mother, Asimina, who created traditional Greek dishes and fabulous desserts. He followed his dreams and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America.
George (left) and Tony Agadis, who grew up in the restaurant business in Manhattan, have owned the Brickerville House dining-and-shopping complex since 2008.
Although The Brickerville House seats 225, it is divided among a series of dining areas that create a sense of warmth and coziness. The dining area off the entry is known as the General Store. This cheery area features exposed stone walls and rafters. Seating is via booths and a counter. The light-filled, L-shaped Porch features a flagstone floor and is a great place to watch the pedestrian activity at the adjacent Bricker Village. The area also houses shelves filled with coffee beans that may be ground and purchased. The Library, with its faux bookshelves, is situated between the Porch and the General Store. Behind the General Store is the Fireplace Room, which has exposed stone walls, wainscoting and a Colonial-style stone fireplace. To the rear is the light and airy Garden Room.
The General Store, which features a counter and booths, is a favorite of regular customers who are on the go.
“Over the past few years, we’ve redone several areas of the restaurant including the Porch. Recently, the Garden Room had a makeover with new windows, flooring, tables and décor. Tony took charge of the makeover; he’s got a great sense of style,” George says.
The menu features a wide array of items and everything is made from scratch including mashed potatoes and meatloaf. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily. The restaurant has become known for its buttermilk pancakes, 8-oz. charbroiled burgers and summer salads. Other popular items include baked chicken pie, stuffed-flounder Florentine, honey-garlic chicken, Asian glazed ribs, prime rib (weekends only) and spinach-artichoke chicken breast. Greek dishes such as spinach pie (spanakopita) are also a specialty of the house. Be sure to save some room for dessert!
The Brickerville House Restaurant is located at 2 E. 28th Division Highway (the corner of Routes 501 and 322), Lititz. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Reservations are suggested for parties of eight or more. Take-out is available. BYOB is permitted. Call 717-625-2525 or visit brickervillehouserestaurant.com. Hours for the individual shops/businesses in Bricker Village vary. For details, visit brickervillage.com.
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