Have you ever known someone for quite awhile, say 20 years in my case, exchanged pleasantries most of the time, but never really knew much about ’em when one stopped to reflect upon it. Not until recently, at a chance meeting with a mutual friend (famed Farmer Younker) at a different locale, did I have a lengthy conversation with one, realizing we had basically grown up together as very young adults but with two different employers. We were newly graduated alum from rival high schools when I started going to college up at KU. I was working for the rejuvenated American Folklife Institute, who had relocated their offices to Main Street in Kutztown at the Historic 1804 Town Crier’s, from the heritage-rich Oley Valley.
The year was 1995, and the Kutztown Folk Festival had just split into two, with former “Little Richard” taking his stands to Summit Station (Schuylkill County), and a revamped Folk Festival emerged in Kutztown (led by Richard Shaner), adding multiple food and beverage stations we built that spring, including a pig roast building and funnel cake stand, and we transported two authentic Conestoga wagons to the local Fairgrounds, quite a sight that day! Well, that was the case with the elder of the three mainstay waitresses, Jess (Adams) Neiman, at the locally popular Quality Shoppe restaurant where Mr. Shaner and I held our morning meetings at least 4-5 times a week, for years.
Jess is, and was, simply how she looks, an attractive, local farm girl type, nice and relatable with a good heart, and willing to strike up a conversation with most, caring what the other person is saying. For the majority, she’s a girl you’d be proud to take home to Mom. Somewhat antagonistic to me at times, she certainly can be a little feisty and hold her own, which helps her cause and adds to her character of more than good looks and a thoughtful, reflective thinker. Just be careful not to be judgmental of her freshly baked pies she prepares for “the Q-Shoppe,” because that’s a grudge she might not let go of.
I’m often reminded about comments my boss made about a decade and a half ago, so I am guilty by association, I suppose. I should also mention her love of horses ’cause for years that’s how Mr. Shaner tried to “butter up” by asking about Sterling (the horse) after his pie crust comments, again, 15 years ago! His continual, refreshed comments that later involved feeding Sterling apples also backfired; she told me frankly in confidence apples give horses diarrhea! Perhaps, Mr. Shaner should’ve just played it safe and asked how her husband and/or kids were doing.
Crystal, the least tenured of the three, at eight years, but certainly vivacious and energetic, is probably the one I’ve grown closest with over the last couple months. She gives the feel of a little sister; someone you can confide your thoughts and insecurities in without regret and in return, sound advice. Interestingly enough, I found she is in a quasi-long relationship with a local Wenger Mennonite who left his sect, and I admire her courage and decision to find an outstanding father figure for her two children, Annabella and Domanic. The man also happens to be a really nice guy, not surprisingly.
Being a focused, exemplary Mom, as with the other two, an always admirable trait, my daughter is quite fond of her, and I have no reservation; Kylie is in great hands! Now, if I can only get beau to expand on her Dialect words. Miss Crystal (Adam) also amazes with her savvy coupon expertise that shows her devout Pennsylvania Dutch roots of being wise and thrifty with her hard-earned money. I find her stock-piling of goods amusing, but admittedly smart. If I could only learn to get cartfuls of items and then money back!
Nikki (Curry) is certainly the calmest of the three and most down to earth, in my opinion; she has a very high tolerance I’m curious to witness, but cautious not to test, as she has the look of being capable of taking someone down with two fingers. Perhaps it’s the half Italian, half Irish heritage in her I find a little intimidating, but in an appealing way, I suppose, yet I find her most intriguing, because I know the least about her of the three. She certainly is mature upon her youthful years and has had some enriching life experiences to her credit.
Soon to be a mother of three boys (as of this article going to print) unfortunately for us, she has left the Quality Shoppe after 12 years, but will continue her thoughtfully-planned path with her boys, still always a part of the group. Trustworthy in her care and demeanor of those close, as well as a deep thinker, certainly she is the one of the three I could see going on a long, versatile road trip, perhaps doing high-altitude group yoga with or sitting in a Native American sweat lodge with a thirst for learning and respecting the culture. But most importantly to me, she is someone to have a tested philosophical exchange about the meaning of life and its future.
Despite the ownership transfer with Scott and Connie Gardner, moving their restaurant to Kemp’s Hall in nearby Bowers, newer owner Mike Stern (ironically, a Fleetwood Alum, as I am, and someone I admired watching play baseball as a kid because he had somewhat of a little urban legend going on about how far he hit a ball once) and Allyson took over and maintained its excellent Quality cuisine, pun intended, and offer local favorites like the S.O.S and Peanut Fluffernutter, still keeping all the ice cream favorites many of us remember as kids. The girls remained loyal to the Quality Shoppe establishment through the exchange in late 2008 and stayed behind here in Kutztown to the benefit of locals.
Overall, they are just some good homegrown, likeable girls, beautiful outside and in, all differing personalities, and all alumni of our local Kutztown. The female version of good ole country boys! Hence, “Quality Girls,” and I gotta think besides helping the Q-Shoppe Go Round, there’s some “Old Dutchies” going to eat breakfast or have lunch just to see or interact with them! All in all, our community is enriched by having these three of high moral code and integrity as their residents, and by having their traits be handed down to the seven children between them!
Richard L.T. Orth is assistant director of the American Folklife Institute in Kutztown.
