The Jigger Shop
If you have ever wondered how articles in TheBurg come about, I can only share my experience. As a writer I count my blessings. My editor grants me the latitude to create my own topics as long as they are art related. You may ask, “What is a Jigger?” If you have heard of it, how would it qualify as art?
Over the past 12 months, I have been writing about the environ of Mt. Gretna. A wee bit outside of my art purview but perfect for August—can there truly be a better month for ice cream? The Jigger Shop is much more than a sundae. It is a page in Mt. Gretna’s photo album for eternity.
Colloquial Charm
When Mt. Gretna was created in the early 1880s, iron ore magnate Robert Coleman envisioned a resort community. His blueprint was a picnic grove where visitors could relax for an afternoon and enjoy the fruits of summer. A lake was created by damming the Conewago Creek. A railroad station was built, and a narrow-gauge rail line was laid from the park up the mountain to Governor Dick Tower. The lookout provided a panoramic view that spanned four counties. Its cement tower allows one to survey the surrounding countryside and remains a great spot for hikers and day-trippers. The picnic grove for summer visitors became the foundation ultimately for a hotel, a railroad, dancing and skating pavilions, picnic benches, a restaurant, a shooting gallery, a bowling alley and even a ballfield. With the advent of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua in 1892, many disciplines sprung up to include religion, philosophy, music, literature and the fine arts. Those aspects continued to expand as Mt. Gretna entered the 20th century.
A Jigger History
A Lebanon county destination, the Jigger Shop is found in the heart of Mt. Gretna. Charlie Myers, a Harrisburg tailor by profession, opened a summer pavilion in 1895 under his name, and it remained Myers Pavilion through the mid-1920s. Known for its bon-bons, its menu grew over time.
“Legend has it that two girls vacationing in Gretna for the summer would stop in every afternoon,” stated Drew Allwein, owner of the Jigger Shop for over 50 years. “The girls came up with a unique sundae combination which they loved. The very next day, they came back and asked the waitress if she could make that jigger again.”
“Jigger” at that time was an abbreviated term for “thingamajig,” and the name soon caught on with customers who asked for the Jigger. So much so that the business would switch its name from Myers Pavilion to “The Jigger Shop.”
Since those days, the Jigger Shop has changed owners seven times. The Allwein family was its longest owners, dating back to 1963 when Chuck and Charlotte Allwein purchased the restaurant. Son Drew and wife Linda then ran the business up through 2017. In 2018, the extended Seyfert family of Lebanon County purchased the legendary parlor. Today, Kyle Seyfert keeps it chugging along, much like the railroad passing through Gretna all those years ago.
The Jigger Shop is in great hands under Kyle’s watchful eyes. Each day, he can be found behind the counter or even doing the dishes. Those very tasks endear him to his employees, who keep coming back summer after summer.
“Some places, like the Jigger Shop, don’t need reinvention,” Kyle said. “They just need people who care enough to keep them steady. The Jigger Shop has been that kind of place for over a century, and now it’s my turn to help carry it forward—not by making it new, but by keeping what always works.”
Creative Expressions
At the Jigger, feel free to relax and enjoy the leisurely pace of summer. After all, you are in the land where time stands still, and memories become second nature. Umbrellas, under the canopy of trees, serve the weather’s uncertainty and provide shade for the outside tables. Parlor seating indoors. with ceiling fans humming, ward off the heat and humidity. The soda fountain stools are a throwback to yesteryear as one conjures the two young ladies creating the original Jigger sundae. The order desk at the front showcases posters that line the high-ceilinged wall from the halcyon days of Mt. Gretna’s theater productions. The stained-glass lamps over the tabletops add the perfect finishing touch.
Anything crafted by hand is a form of art, and making a Jigger sundae qualifies as a true expression of creativity. The confection is comprised of 2½ scoops of French vanilla ice cream and whipped marshmallow, chocolate or butterscotch syrup with nuts. The Jigger Shop has remained a constant Gretna favorite, evoking nostalgia and memories handed down over its storied history.
One can work up quite an appetite going to the lookout tower at Governor Dick or traversing the Lebanon Valley rail trails. Perhaps a better bet may be to take The Ice Cream Spur Trail portion. A short walk through the former grounds of the Mt. Gretna Amusement Park will provide access to all the area attractions, including the Jigger Shop, hence the name, the Ice Cream Spur—though its vast menu offers so much more than ice cream. The Jigger’s choices tout 71 delights not including Pennsylvania Dutch birch and root beer in frosted mugs. Ice cream sundaes total 22 options. Don’t forget about lunch as the Jigger Shop is open daily from noon until 9 p.m. every day except Monday. Now you know there is much more to the Jigger than just the Jigger!
The Jigger Shop has been a part of so many central Pennsylvania lives over its 130-year history. Today, the Jigger community spans many generations, with a vast legion of fans, patrons and friends. Students from the surrounding area, whose parents also worked there, continue the tradition, all sharing a genuine affection and appreciation for what the Jigger Shop represents. As far as ambiance goes, summer nights in Gretna hold a magic all their own. When the lights come on at twilight, the ice cream always tastes better. There’s a saying in Mt. Gretna that you truly haven’t experienced the “flavor” of the area until you savored a “Jigger,” and its secret ingredient? A liberal sprinkling of pixie dust—after all, you are in Mt. Gretna!
The Jigger Shop is located at 202 Gettysburg Ave., Mt. Gretna. For more information, visit www.jiggershop.com. A heartfelt thanks to Jack Bitner and his comprehensive book on the history of the region, “Mount Gretna, A Coleman Legacy.”
August Art Arrivals
August beckons, which means Mt. Gretna is at its peak of artistic expression.
The month kicks off with the annual Cicada Music Festival, which runs Aug. 4 to 12. Meanwhile, the Gretna Playhouse bustles all summer long with performances in its cavernous amphitheater. A Saturday morning is reserved for the younger set with timely children’s theater geared for the entire family.
The 51st Annual Mt. Gretna Outdoor Art Show, one of the country’s best art festivals, returns Aug. 16 to 17. Back at the helm again this year is festival director, Kerry Royer. Mt. Gretna’s International Film Festival is also back, running that same weekend. The film festival is dedicated to the memory of Michael Evan Dietzler.
Your choice film or art—the skilled will find a means to do both, but can you do it while juggling a Jigger?
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