Steve Stetzler grew up a few miles away from the small country town of Lenhartsville. He began working at the
Deitsch Eck Restaurant in Lenhartsville when he was 15 years old, busing tables, serving, washing dishes, and even helping
to cook. After graduating from Hamburg Area High School in 1991, Steve attended Penn State Berks Campus in Reading, PA, graduating in May of 1993 with an associates degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. That same year, he was asked by the owners of the Deitsch Eck to manage and cook at the restaurant and he did. In 1997, at the age of 24, he bought the restaurant and became owner.
Today the Deitsch Eck (Dutch Corner) is a family-operated restaurant, serving heaping portions of PA Dutch food and is located in the heart of PA Dutch country. Steve's mother, sister, and aunt all work with him performing various duties. Also employed are several college and high school students from the nearby towns. In addition to his many responsibilities at the Deitsch Eck, Steve also finds time to serve as the president of the Schuylkill Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association and sits as a member of the state Board of Directors.
Steve and his staff perform various charitable activities. Since 1994, on the Monday before Thanksgiving, the Deitsch Eck serves free meals to low-income individuals/households of the Northern Berks Food Pantry, with the employees donating their time to serve them. Steve also donates the food needed for his church's yearly spaghetti supper and hoagie sale, as well as food for local churches' chicken BBQ fundraisers, and the local historical society's annual picnic. His most widely known contribution came when he donated all of the restaurant's receipts and waitresses tips, approx. $2800.00, to the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund on Oct 11, 2001, one month after the World Trade Center disaster. The money assisted families of the victims who were employees in the Trade Center's eating establishments.
Steve is proud of a couple achievements in his career. He was given the 2002 Emerging Professional Award by the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society, the Virginville Grange honored him with their Community Service Award in 2002 and in 2004 he received the Keystone Award from the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association for his achievements in the restaurant industry and his contributions to his community. Steve credits his success in the restaurant business to his college education and his family's and employees' dedication to the business. The Deitsch Eck celebrated 14 years of business on May 29th, 2007, and Steve and his staff hope for many more years of success to come. |
