Stauffers of Kissel Hill’s founder, Roy M. Stauffer, Sr., was born and raised on the Stauffer Fruit Farm in Warwick Township, a few miles southeast of Lititz. His father, Tilman, raised fruits and vegetables and sold them on the farm and to local stores. Some of the produce was peddled door to door.
In 1932, Roy Stauffer, Sr., opened a fruit stand along the Lititz Pike on lease ground on the south side of Kissel Hill. Following the loss of the stand through fire in 1937, Mr. & Mrs. Stauffer purchased the brick Kissel Hill home and small farm of five acres where they lived with their twelve children. Later that year, the present Kissel Hill building which now houses the corporate office, was open for business and services were expanded to include the sale of plants, trees, and shrubs.
As the business prospered, it became necessary to find additional sources of supply so fresh produce could be continuously available. Realizing the necessity to dispense the produce in its freshest state, items from Adams County, New Jersey, New York and terminals in Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York were purchased, in addition to local produce. Roy, Sr., also attended and sold produce at various farmer’s markets throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, in addition to the retail sales at the Stauffer Fruit Market.
A major re-organization of the business took place in 1956 when Roy, Jr. and brother-in-law Jay Oberholtzer formed a partnership and rented the business. A corporation was formed three years later when the business was purchased from Mrs. Stauffer, and Earl, a third member and brother, was added to the management team. Two years later (1961), another brother, Jim, joined the firm. He was accompanied a short time later by Paul, the youngest of the Stauffer sons.
The strength and stability of the business in the hands of hard working owners and a progressive corporate board made it possible to open multiple store locations under the trade name of “Stauffers of Kissel Hill.”
Over 80 years later, through the support of the local community, the business continues to prosper. Today, Stauffers has locations throughout
Central Pennsylvania: Our Fresh Foods and Home & Garden Stores are in Lititz and Rohrerstown. Additionally we have standalone Home & Garden Stores in East York, Dover, Hummelstown, Linglestown, and Mechanicsburg.
Our expanded services have grown to include: local produce, fresh meats, our own baked goods, signature dishes in The Kitchen, popular grocery items, natural and organic offerings, and special foodie events. In our Home & Garden Stores we’ve expanded to include trees & shrubs, pond products, landscaping tools, supplies and designs, home & gift boutique goods and lawn & garden items.
Today, the board of directors and our entire Stauffers team delivers the dream of Roy Stauffer Sr. to offer customers high quality food, home and garden products, and services in central Pennsylvania under the brand that has become known as Stauffers of Kissel Hill.
