SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF DER DUTCHMAN
Email us at warrencountynews@coxohio.com with fond memories or interesting stories about Der Dutchman. Please include contact information so that we can reach you for a possible story.
Prayers go out to Der Dutchman staff
Over the years our family has celebrated many special occasions at the Der Dutchman in Waynesville, but the most memorable of all was our daughter’s recent wedding reception Aug. 21.
Their beautiful banquet center provided the perfect setting for Jessica and Luke to celebrate this very special day with their guests and loved ones. Luminous candles and twinkle lights created a warm ambiance for an elegant dinner, dancing, and fun. As always, the food was excellent; the service and hospitality exceptional.
Having been involved in many weddings, I can attest that Der Dutchman’s event coordinator Terri Lumpkin and her staff (Stephanie, Brenda, Katie, etc.) are the most kind, attentive, and accommodating you will ever find! Without exception each one treated us like family, and was a pleasure to work with.
This same sense of family is easily observed among the entire Der Dutchman staff, and what makes today’s terrible event so heartbreaking. What a blessing to know that everyone escaped the fire without injury! Our prayers are with all who are now jobless, with the hope that this landmark will soon be rebuilt and continue to create special memories for area families for many years to come.
Cindy L. Heflin
Best pecan pie in the country
I lived in northern Sugarcreek Twp. and used to go there to get the best pecan pies in the country. I could always find some fun trinkets for gifts there, too. A friend’s wedding reception was there and the food was scrumptious and the atmosphere very chic/homey.
Pam Darrington
This is a sad day for our family
Our family was just going to meet at the restaurant this coming Saturday the 16th for our semi-annual get together. My great-uncle, the last of his generation of 11 kids, coordinates our dinners which helps him see the family at a time before and after our family reunion in July. Family is everything to him and the Der Dutchman has always been a great place to eat due to its location in relationship to our various family members, almost like a hub. That is why it is our “regular spot” He starts his “It’s Der Dutchman Time” e-mails about 5-6 weeks ahead of the spring and fall dinners and sends e-mail reminders “It’s almost Der Dutchman time” weekly till it is dinner time. Usually we have 35-50 people there at once for our little get together. I had to call him this morning and break the news to him.
Like my uncle, I look forward to our family dinners at Der Dutchman and have several great memories and photos of my family. Sadly, my memories are unfortunately not all great. During the Fall 2005 dinner, I was just pulling up to the front door so that my son could help my dad and step-mom into the restaurant when I received a call from my sister. My mother had just died. I went in to get my dad and he was already having such a great time socializing, it broke my heart to pull him from everybody as our family members were waiting for tables. Even though I will never forget that I was at the front door that day, as I am reminded every time I go, the family, as well as the fantastic food and great service gets me through the door and past that one memory, and helps me enjoy every minute with my family.
I cannot wait for them to rebuild. Thank God nobody was hurt.
Lee Edwards
Great service at restaurant
My fond memory of Der Dutchman is of an annual Christmas party for the Avon District that I am connected too.
For the past several years, up to about five years, we have had our Christmas parties here.
The employees and the food have always been wonderful and of a home atmosphere. I for one as I am sure my sister Avon representatives will miss this year. We were looking forward to another year of Celebrating our Holidays with the Der Dutchman family.
I pray they are able to receive the help they need to rebuild. Although I am not a resident of Waynesville, I can only imagine how they feel.
God Bless the community as they go through this trying time.
Cheryl Davis
Looking forward to restaurant returning
I am very saddened by the loss of Der Dutchman (or “Der Dutch,” as some of my friends and I call it).
I go there often as part of a small group of writers. All of us met because of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop in Yellow Springs, although all of us were never there at the same time.
We started out as two of us, with me coming from Cincinnati and Sandy Kachurek coming from Springfield, then Susan DeBow joined us -- coming from Maineville. Sandy then invited Jan Irvin from Springboro who invited Rosalie Yoakum.
When we began getting together as a foursome, before Rosalie joined the group, we found that Der Dutchman was a good, sort-of central place to meet where they had plenty of breakfast options and plenty of room so they didn’t shoo us out after half an hour. We had lots of time to share and critique our writing. (And if we were going to be a little loud or “adult” in our conversation, they had lots of room to seclude us from other diners. “Just put us in a corner,” we would tell them.)
The waitresses and cashiers were always very friendly and warm, recognizing that we were regulars of a sort. We didn’t eat a lot but we always walked away well nourished.
I, for one, will be very supportive of whatever they can do to keep a retail presence in the community, even if it means keeping just the bakery and gift shop going until the restaurant is rebuilt -- or whatever. We’ll find another meeting place I suppose; I doubt it will be as good. I’ll be looking forward to returning to Der Dutch.
Wendy Hart Beckman