New Business Neighbor in Paradise - December 2020

Who in the world would open a new business during a pandemic as other small businesses are regretfully closing their doors?  Well, if you have a solid reputation in Lancaster County for making the best homemade chicken pies around, that might be you.

Long-time visitors to the area will remember the National Christmas Center in Paradise which was a beloved attraction in town for almost 20 years until it closed in early 2018.  While we were glad to hear that the entire collection had been saved and would be moved to the Stone Gables Estate in Elizabethtown, we watched as the building it had occupied on Lincoln Highway deteriorated miserably. 

Throughout the summer we noticed movement at the location, and then this week we discovered the new occupant – Zook’s Homemade Chicken Pies.   We always personally check out a recommendation before passing it onto our guests, so on a quiet Saturday morning we ventured over to take a look.

What a wonderful new store!  They have actually moved the baking of the pies here in what appears to be a great commercial kitchen.  They stock all of our favorite pies – chicken, beef and sausage – both fresh and ready for the oven or frozen.  They’ll even sell you a thermal bag and ice gel packs to take several home with you.

But that is only half of the story.  In this beautiful new location, the Zook Family has expanded to include the Dutch Town & Country Market.  What a wonderful surprise!  The shelves, refrigerators and freezers are full of all of the locally made goodies that we all love.  They stock fresh baked goods from local neighbors, Welsh Mountain canned fruits and preserves, ice cream and dairy products from Down on the Farm Creamery and Lapp Valley Farm, and much, much more.  Besides our dinner of a chicken pie, we brought home dried fruits and nuts, a gallon of fresh milk, ice cream (just couldn’t resist), and a small bottle of fresh egg nog, which actually never made it home.  (we finished it in the car before we got home).

They have no website, but they will take phone orders for pick up at (717) 768-0239.  They are less than 2 miles from us in Paradise at 3427 Lincoln Highway East.  Make a note to check them out on your next trip.