By Gene Pisasale

From 1859 to 1920, Brittingham’s blacksmith shop occupied the northwest corner of Baltimore Pike and Creek Road in the sleepy village of Chadds Ford. It may be hard for many current residents to imagine, but both byways were dirt roads at the time. Frank Brittingham was the blacksmith there for 50 years. With the arrival and rapidly growing popularity of the automobile, the need for blacksmiths diminished.

The business at the northwest corner of Baltimore Pike and Creek Road was rebuilt in the 1920s as a service station.

Some “old timers” in the area may recall that, in the 1940s, a vegetable stand was constructed on the property next to the service station. It was later converted to a 14-seat open air hot dog stand called George’s Brandywine Lunch. After George, the manager, passed away in the late 1950s, Hank Shupe offered to take over operations. He was working in Pocopson as a senior machinist at the Lenape Iron Works (today’s Lenape Forge). Hank lived in an apartment above the popular Gallagher’s Store across from the hot dog stand. Shupe rented the property and became manager of the diner in October 1960, turning the business into Hank’s Place, which became a big success. The site was subject to regular flooding from nearby Brandywine Creek, including a devastating flood in 1977 which damaged the foundation. Hank purchased the property, tore down the small green and white venue and rebuilt Hank’s Place a bit further east on slightly higher ground, in the footprint of the old blacksmith shop.

Hank Shupe retired and sold Hank’s Place in 1991 to Peter and Voula Skiadas, who later expanded the building and added beautiful garden landscaping surrounding the eatery. For 26 years, Hank’s Place was “Where friendly people meet and hungry people eat”— a hugely popular dining establishment, with “down home cooking” drawing visitors from around the region. Many people, when they think of Chadds Ford, think of Hank’s Place, its reputation inextricably linked with the town.

Numerous local and regional celebrities, including Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, George “Frolic” Weymouth and others dined there regularly. With hundreds of colorful flower arrangements flanking the sides of the establishment and the bold blue and white Hank’s Place sign out front on the corner, the restaurant became a notable tourist attraction, all due to the dedication of Peter and Voula Skiadas.

In May of 2017, Anthony and Katie Young purchased the business with plans to continue Hank’s fine traditions. These plans changed when COVID hit in 2020, forcing businesses to close for an extended period of time. The Youngs were quite resilient. They adapted and converted an outdoor area into a patio where patrons could dine under a canopy. No sooner did things start to return to normal when a record flood of the Brandywine in late Summer of 2021 filled the building with eight feet of water, making it unusable. Anthony and Katie were faced yet again with an enormous challenge—but they proved their dedication by petitioning the township to rebuild on the same spot. It took seemingly endless negotiations before final approval could be granted to tear down the building to make way for the new Hank’s Place. After nearly two years, they are now ready to start… anew.

Demolition of the long-standing establishment occurred on a cold morning, December 8, 2023, before a crowd including many of the long-time staff, who watched as the place they knew and loved for decades came down before them. There was palpable sadness in the audience, but also a glimmer of hope. The Youngs have shown remarkable perseverance and fortitude in remaining dedicated to maintaining this wonderful landmark establishment which, to many, IS Chadds Ford.

Over the past few months, a construction team has been working diligently to bring the new Hank’s Place to life. A Beam Signing Ceremony took place on April 18 at the site, allowing people to sign their names and “leave their mark” on one of the sturdy wooden beams which will be part of the establishment, which is expected to be open around Labor Day. Anthony and Katie welcomed all attendees to make their mark on the foundation of the new structure. Cognizant of the risk of flooding, the Youngs will have the new building positioned on a platform rising well above ground level. With a lovely design, the rejuvenated Hank’s Place will begin a new chapter in Chadds Ford history. Sadly, its beloved former owner, Peter Skiadas, passed away just a few days before the beam-signing event. He was likely watching from up above along with Hank Shupe, proud that their former restaurant will now have a new “look,” a new life and with Anthony and Katie’s strong efforts, will serve thousands for many years to come.

Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square. His 11 books focus mostly on the history of the Chester County/mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s latest book is “Heritage of the Brandywine Valley”, a beautifully illustrated hardcover book with over 250 images showcasing the fascinating people, places and events of this region over more than 300 years. His books are available on his website at www.GenePisasale.com and also on www.Amazon.com. Gene can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].