Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats will open a retail store and museum in Palmyra

Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats will open a new retail store and corporate museum in downtown Palmyra, expanding its footprint in the borough.

The historic Bologna supplier in Lebanon previously had retail outposts at Jubilee stores, and more recently at Black Swan Antiques, but the new location will be 100% seltzer. It will carry all of the company’s packaged items.

Plus, it’ll be packed with artifacts from Seltzer’s 120-year history.

Longtime Seltzer employee Denny Kettering runs the new outlet, which will be located in the former Roy’s Bicycle Shop at 209 N. Railroad St.

Kettering has been with the company for almost 43 years and has served in a variety of positions within the company, including more than two decades as Chief Smoker and two years as Plant Manager.

For most of that time, he collected items related to the history of seltzer in the county. These items will be displayed in the museum portion of the new location – items such as barrels and signs from the 1940s, gifts for Seltzer children organized in the 1960s and 70s, old jackets that Seltzer drivers wore, and various brands used. for marking seltzer wooden crates.

Kettering said his father and son are both auction enthusiasts and have helped him compile his collection of Seltzer memorabilia over the years.

The museum will also feature Seltzer family artifacts, including founder Harvey Seltzer’s desk, a number of photos, and items from Jack Seltzer’s time at State House, where he served as a lecturer and represented the county of Lebanon via the 101st seat.

As for retail offerings, all of Seltzer’s packaged items will be available, including their new beef jerky, which will hit shelves this summer. The store will also carry a number of Pennsylvania Netherlands-themed items, such as birch beer and shoofly pie.

Read more: Seltzer plans summer launch of beef jerky made from their Lebanon Bologna

The new store will also serve as the company’s version of Chocolate World, featuring replicas of Seltzer’s famous smokehouses (perfect for a quick photo) and videos of the production process, such as the 2009 Dirty Jobs episode with Seltzer’s and the most recent video from ABC’s Localish.

Kettering said the joiners are nearing completion and, while an exact opening date has yet to be identified, he hopes to see the store open in mid-July. Tentatively, hours will be Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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