LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — For many restaurants, New Year’s Day is a time to close their doors. However, Bird-in-Hand Smorgasbord in Lancaster County chose to stay open, marking its first New Year’s Day service in years.
The decision carries extra meaning after a fire in 2024 forced the restaurant to shut down for more than a year while the building underwent repairs and remodeling.
For longtime customers, the reopening brought back a familiar tradition. Jerry and Erin Book say they used to visit the restaurant nearly every New Year’s Day before the fire disrupted their routine…