Thomas E. Strauss, Inc.

The story of Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. begins in 1929, along Lincoln Highway East in Lancaster County.
Before Lancaster County became one of America’s most beloved travel destinations, before the smorgasbord became a signature part of the region’s food culture, and before generations of guests made Miller’s a tradition of their own, there was Anna Miller and a simple, generous meal.
Anna’s husband, Enos Miller, operated a truck repair and gas station. As drivers waited for their trucks to be serviced, Anna welcomed them with the kind of food that reflected her Pennsylvania Dutch roots: honest, abundant and made with care. Her chicken and waffles quickly became more than a way to pass the time. They became the reason people stopped.
What began as a small act of hospitality grew into Miller’s Smorgasbord, Lancaster’s first and oldest smorgasbord. It was a place where travelers, neighbors and families could gather around heritage foods, scratch-made favorites and the warm welcome that has always defined Lancaster County.
In 1948, longtime employees Thomas and Beatrice Strauss purchased the business from the Miller family. They carried forward the spirit Anna had started nearly two decades earlier: serve good food, treat people well and create an experience guests would want to return to again and again.
From that foundation, Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. was born.
Over the decades, the company grew with Lancaster County, expanding from one restaurant into a family-owned hospitality group rooted in food, lodging, retail and memorable guest experiences. In 1993, the Strauss family added Plain & Fancy Farm, a treasured Bird-in-Hand destination with its own rich history of welcoming visitors to Amish Country. In 2003, AmishView Inn & Suites opened on the Plain & Fancy Farm property, offering guests a peaceful stay surrounded by Lancaster County farmland. Smokehouse at Plain & Fancy Farm followed in 2017, bringing a fresh dining experience to the property while continuing the company’s tradition of warm hospitality.
Today, Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. includes Miller’s Smorgasbord, AmishView Inn & Suites, Plain & Fancy Farm, Smokehouse at Plain & Fancy Farm, The Quilt Shop at Miller’s, The Barn & Hearth Shop, Locally Made Food Shop, Miller’s Bakery and Anna’s Gifts & Sundries. Each brand has its own personality, but all share the same purpose: to make people feel valued.
That mission reaches back to Anna Miller’s kitchen in 1929. It lives in every meal served, every guest room prepared, every local product selected, every team member welcomed and every visitor who leaves Lancaster County feeling like they experienced something genuine.
Nearly a century later, Thomas E. Strauss, Inc. remains family-owned and Lancaster County proud. The company has grown, but the heart of the story has never changed.
It began with a meal.