The vibe inside Strasburg’s Beautiful Home Interiors is one-of-a-kind; which makes sense, when you hear owner Ruthie Stoltzfus describe her vision for the shop using words like “unique” and “Bohemian.”
“I describe it as modern Bohemian,” says Ruthie. “I love picking out unique things that nobody else is selling in Lancaster County.”
From kitchen charcuterie to handmade cards, jewelry to home décor, hand-crafted items by local makers to those created by undiscovered artisans in far-flung spots like Utah, Beautiful Home is just that.
“The latest thing I’ve loved finding is unique floral stems that look real, like they just came out of a forest. I just love a natural, organic look,” Ruthie says. For those with a green thumb, Beautiful Home has recently expanded their offerings to include live plants.
Her eye for design is a talent that comes naturally—she describes it as something she’s “passionate about.”
“I also love having fun little gifts for brides and grooms, sisters, grandparents—unique gifts for special people,” she says.
Doors to the home interior and gift shop opened in October—like many of our plans in 2020—months behind original projections, due to the pandemic.
“Opening the business was a step of faith, before it became a mountain of faith, [amid COVID-19],” Ruthie describes. “All of it has been quite the journey.”
The business is owned by Ruthie, 36, and husband JR, 43, married for 16 years. The close-knit family includes four children—twin 13-year old boys, along with 9- and 5-year old daughters.
But Beautiful Home isn’t the only venture for this beautiful family. Next door, you’ll find their Agapē Cafe & Grille. Both businesses are modeled off their first two businesses, which they continue to own and operate—Beautiful Home Furniture & Design and Dutch Family Restaurant located in Germantown, Maryland’s Lancaster County Dutch Market.
Ruthie, at the age of 16, began working at the Dutch Family Restaurant, which she and JR purchased in 2005. But as their family grew, it became more important for the couple to open businesses in their native Strasburg area.
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A big mural inside the café explains the meaning of “Agape.”
“It’s the highest form of love—it’s about serving,” says Ruthie. “It’s about showing people kindness and love, no matter what walk of life you come from.”
Just like the Bohemian vibe next door, Agape’s menu includes a colorful, creative blend of coffeeshop staples, mixed with café classics.
“Most cafés and coffeeshops have a limited menu. We wanted a more extensive menu, but with that coffeeshop feel,” JR explains.
Breakfast platters include the creative breakfast bread bowl filled with creamed beef or sausage gravy, topped with cheddar cheese, with the option of adding an egg. You’ll also find “Golden Malted Waffles,” a wide variety of sandwiches and burgers, salads and homemade soups.
Agape’s boards, smoked meat and seafood platters are unique combinations, where JR's talents for smoked meats truly shine.
“I’m self-taught, pretty much,” he says. “I’ve been researching, cooking for the family, and smoking for probably 12-to-15 years. After you do it for a while, you get a feel for what goes with a cut of meat.”
His brisket, along with smoked and seasoned pork belly “burnt ends” are some of his best sellers—“because they’re unusual, sweet and savory,” says JR.
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The “sweet and spicy burger” is another best-seller—it combines caramelized bacon, sharp cheese, and spring mix atop a burger on a brioche bun, but the “kicker,” Ruthie says, is the made-in-house tomato jam. The boards menu includes beautifully-arranged charcuterie, smokehouse, and snack boards in small, medium, and large displays.
“It’s a lot of fun to put boards together,” Ruthie says. “And they can be a full meal for someone coming in to work on their laptop or a fun experience for the whole family to come in and snack.”
The extensive coffee menu features Baltimore’s Ceremony Coffee alongside Ruthie's popular herb-infused fruit spritzers. These combine frozen and fresh fruit puree such as mango or raspberry with mint or rosemary-infused simple syrups. Just like the Stoltzfus’s marriage, Beautifu Home and Agapē Cafe & Grille feel like the perfect pairing.
“The reasoning behind the two business together is that it’s fun to have people enjoy both,” says Ruthie. “People can enjoy shopping for a gift, then grabbing a coffee and macaron too.”
Beautiful Home Interiors Agapē Cafe & Grille
366 Hartman Bridge Road, Ronks
