Grandma Stamm’s is both a restaurant, and place for entertainment and education. Many Dickinsonians look for food and entertainment off campus, and Grandma Stamm’s may be the best place for them to find it.
Grandma Stamm’s Comfort Food has been the building’s name since 1958, standing the test of time through multiple changes in ownership and attempts to change the business name. The store, located at 44 E High St., is now owned by father and son pair Dave and Jacob “Jake” Langley. They fuse their own areas of expertise with the quick-service restaurant, making it an unexpected, but compelling location to visit.
Grandma Stamm’s fried chicken has been deemed “the best … in [Carlisle] for over 50 years,” according to the Cumberland County homepage, making it a popular dining destination for locals. While food is still central to the business today, the location also includes a used bookstore and hosts live music events.
Jake Langley, a long-time musician, originally bought the business for stable, additional income. He says that preserving the history of the business has become an important responsibility for him. While Langley acknowledges that many people in the town may have reservations about his new ownership of the restaurant, he hopes that most people in Carlisle will see the value in what he has brought into the business. His favorite memories since he became owner are from the nights they host local bands in the shop. Their next music event will be Feb. 2, when Jake and his band Handguns will be performing.
Dave Langley has been a bookseller since 1983 and has recently started selling books through his website, bookbyr.com. In 2022, when he and his son bought Grandma Stamm’s, he saw the perfect opportunity to sell books in person and has been doing so ever since. He says that he loves his job because he can help bring literacy and a love for reading to children and families who may not be able to afford new books. “It’s important that kids learn to read… [and] it’s important that they enjoy reading,” he says.
He has also participated in book donation drives and said that “[t]here’s been [many] rewarding moments when you can … give what you [have].” When his wife asks him why he’s still in the book business at 66 years old, he responds that “iIt’s worth it all” because of “[his ] “love of people and [his] love of reading.” While he claims that he is “just a guy [and] not some saint,””, it’s clear that he has a true passion for helping children and their families have easier access to education.
Overall, “we care about the customers more than our pocket,” Jake Langley says. While the hustle and bustle of running a restaurant is clear on a busy day, the Langleys try to make sure that every customer still feels welcome and taken care of.
