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But come this Thanksgiving, owner Paul Stahl wants it to start being known for something else.
On the day when Americans stop to give thanks, Stahl and employees will do something he has long thought "would just be a nice thing to do" — host a Turkey Day feast for all who want to come.
His Jakey's Amish Barbecue, located behind Dutch Haven at 2857 Lincoln Highway East, Ronks, will host its first Thanksgiving dinner, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stahl said he can accommodate a total of up to 500 people, "and I think it's going to be a great day."
Nobody's getting paid to come in that day, so "whoever's here (among employees) is here because they want to be," Stahl said.
He also welcomes volunteers, who are invited to just show up.
The buffet-style dinner will feature roasted turkey and pineapple-glazed ham, chicken corn soup, candied yams, mashed potatoes, stuffing, buttered noodles, string beans, corn, cranberry sauce and two kinds of pie: pumpkin and its trademark shoofly pie.
Stahl and his helpers won't be the only ones who are planning to head out on Thanksgiving Day to make the holiday brighter for many in the community.
More than a dozen churches, community centers and other sites are opening their doors to all for special dinners.
Here is a list of free meals being offered around the county on Thanksgiving Day, compiled by United Way of Lancaster County's Lancaster INformation Center (LINC):
• In Denver and Ephrata, a pair of dinners, both from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Denver Recreation Center, 126 N. Fourth St., 336-2485, and Ephrata Pioneer Fire Hall, 135 S. State St., 733-4850.
• In Elizabethtown, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elizabethtown First Church of God, 144 S. Market St., 367-7060.
• In Gap, a dinner for local residents from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Family Center of Gap, 835 Houston Run Drive, 442-2300.
• In Lancaster, from noon to 2 p.m. at Covenant United Methodist Church, 110 N. Mulberry St., 393-1561.
• In Lancaster, from noon to 6 p.m. at Water Street Ministries, 210 S. Prince St., 393-7709.
Water Street also is hosting a "Great Thanksgiving Banquet" to all Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• In Lititz, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lititz United Methodist Church, 201 E. Market St., 626-2710.
• In Manheim, at noon at Zion Lutheran Church, 2 S. Hazel St., 665-5880. Reservations are required by Sunday.
• In Millersville, from noon to 2 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 163 W. Frederick St., 872-4571.
• Just outside of Millersville, from noon to 2 p.m. at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 2111 Millersville Pike, 872-2166.
• In Mount Joy, at noon at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 37 E. Main St., 653-5493.
• In Mountville, from noon to 2 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 100 W. Main St., 285-5020.
• In New Holland, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 249 E. Main St., 354-7871.
• And in Conestoga, at noon at Colemanville United Methodist Church, 210 Colemanville Road, 872-7951.
Several of the sites can arrange home-delivered meals and also transportation for local residents.
Call LINC at 291-5462 or the sites providing the dinners for more information.
The dinners are all about giving those who would like a place to go "something to be thankful for at Thanksgiving," as one organizer said last year.
