The Heart of Amish Country!

 

Saturday, we travelled to the heart of Amish Country in Wayne County, Ohio. The peak colors of fall had passed a week ago, so I was hoping for less tourists and traffic to navigate. I should’ve picked a day during the week; it was still crazy with too many crowded shops and congested traffic.   

I often write concerning the opportunity to “wow” your customers. While driving towards our Amish tour, I stopped at a gas station outside of Millersburg, Ohio. The business was an old two- pump station which offered ample staples, including meat and Swiss cheese. I asked the young lady working at the meat counter if we could use the restroom? She replied:  “We don’t have restrooms for our customers.” We promptly headed back to the car.

A few more miles down the road we stopped by another gas station and were accommodated.

Those types of businesses should understand the power of marketing begins by getting you to enter the business. Once inside, the customer’s impulse to purchase candy, chips, or soda is how a shop makes money, not at the pumps.

During our journey, my Mother noticed a mile-marker sign for Mohicanville, Ohio. I’ve never been there. My Mother told us a story concerning her great Grandfather’s brother, who was skinned alive by Indians near Mohicanville. Gruesome stuff! My guess is this could have occurred around 1812, near the time of the Copus Hill Massacre, near Mifflin, Ohio.

We continued through Millersburg and onto Berlin, Ohio to the gift shops of Sol’s Palace and Sol’s Exchange. Sol’s is the area’s largest art and craft mall. Berlin, Ohio reminded me of  Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Crowded sidewalks of people, moving from one shop to the next, like a herd of cattle throughout the business hours. Well ok, maybe a very small version of Gatlinburg.

Outside of Sol’s Exchange was an Amish man selling buggy rides in an authentic horse-drawn carriage. His wife and perhaps their granddaughter sat in chairs near the buggy. The amount of congested traffic in the parking lots wouldn’t appear to be safe for a buggy ride.

After shopping at Sol’s we headed further down the road stopping by Troyer’s Country Market. While my wife and Mother shopped, I took the opportunity to snap a few photos.

 

 

 

Our next destination (by-passing Walnut Creek and Sugar Creek, Ohio) would be the Dutch Valley Restaurant. We arrived at 4:15 pm. The waiting line extended 50 feet outside the doors.

The hostess informed us the wait for a table would be 15-20 minutes. She stated a buffet was served in the basement of the business and there was no wait to be seated. I elected to try the buffet.  The buffet price was $33.00 for two people and included drinks, desert and tip. A young Amish girl served our drinks.

 The salad bar and food were delicious and we were surrounded by continual groups arriving from tour buses. I noticed many people from Pennsylvania and West Virginia at the Dutch Valley Restaurant.

After our meal, we departed for home. The tourist traffic was minimal since most of the shops had closed. We stopped by the same gas station on our journey home. My wife spent a few more dollars on pop.

The hand crafted furniture is remarkable in Amish country as is the food. The economy always does well in this niche. There’s never a recession in Amish Country.

And luckily, there is only one gas station without a restroom for their customers!

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

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