Silver Side Cafe & Creamery: Preserving the Past While Creating New Community Traditions

Some buildings are more than bricks and mortar. They’re where communities gather, friendships grow, and memories are made. For the Katsifis family, saving the historic East Shore Diner was never just about preserving a building. It was about protecting a place where people felt they belonged and carrying that same sense of welcome into the future for a new generation. They didn’t have to look far for inspiration: the family lives just a few miles away from the building’s new location and grew up in the very community they now serve.

The diner dates to the early 1950s and was built by the Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company of Bayonne, New Jersey. Its distinctive “L”-shaped configuration made it a noteworthy example of mid-20th-century commercial architecture. It served the community until the early 1980s, when it fell into disrepair. The Katsifis family purchased the building in 1984 and invested significant time and money to restore the interior and bring the historic diner back to life. For nearly 40 years, customers flocked to the East Cameron Street location in Harrisburg for coffee, breakfast, and conversation.

When PennDOT approached the family in 2019 about the I-83 Capital Beltway expansion, they were presented with a few options—and moving the diner was the best. In many ways, the move felt like coming home. “We always thought about moving over in this direction,” the family explains. They found an available lot near Cumberland Valley High School, just down the road from their home. The diner served its final breakfast on August 31, 2022, and that fall the building began its journey more than a dozen miles west to Mechanicsburg.

Relocating a fully intact 1950’s stainless-steel diner was no ordinary construction project. The building was carefully separated into two segments and transported on two trailers, with every precaution taken to make sure nothing was damaged. Throughout the process, the family worked to honor historic preservation standards and comply with township guidelines, while brainstorming what the building would become next.

Because the new location wouldn’t be a diner, the Katsifis family had the chance to dream bigger. Transforming the building into an ice cream shop had long been a dream of Bill Katsifis, the family patriarch. “We always felt there were no places for ice cream in the area,” noted Vikki, Bill’s daughter. “We knew it was needed, having grown up here. We wanted to create a place where everyone was welcome to grab an ice cream and hang out.”

That vision became Silver Side Cafe & Creamery. The restored building preserves the features longtime customers remember—its vintage character, classic finishes, and the original jukebox from the early 1960s—while introducing a destination centered on coffee, handcrafted ice cream, light fare, and community. True to their hands-on spirit, the family makes all their ice cream and food on-site. It took two to three months of testing to perfect the recipes. Today, the dipping cabinet features more than 20 flavors made with all-natural ingredients, fresh waffle cones pressed every morning, and inventive creations like their signature “cereal, cookies, and milk.”

To help bring the full vision to life, the Katsifis family received a $24,476 Tourism Product Development Grant from CAEDC to fund construction of an outdoor seating area, extending the café beyond its walls. The patio has become an extension of Silver Side’s mission. Rather than simply serving customers, it invites people to linger, gather with neighbors, and experience the sense of community the family has always fostered.

“The grant allowed us to complete our overall vision. We would not have been able to build the courtyard without support from CAEDC,” notes Vikki. “We were able to get the furniture we wanted to match our vibe. The fire pits keep the space open year-round, so everyone can sit and stay a while. With CAEDC’s support, we were able to open with everything we wanted.”

The space has quickly become a favorite. It comfortably welcomes large groups—from sports teams to church gatherings—and gives families a safe, friendly place to enjoy a quick, affordable treat. One of the family’s happiest surprises has been the community’s response. Longtime neighbors have returned, new faces have become regulars, and residents have shared how much they appreciate having a place to gather outdoors. “Everyone is so nice and welcoming,” the family says, a sentiment they are clearly determined to return.

Today, Silver Side Cafe & Creamery stands as both a tribute to the past and an investment in the future. Looking ahead, the Katsifis family hopes to make continued improvements, “adding things as needed, but keeping it sweet and simple.” They take particular pride in providing good jobs for local students, whom they call their best ambassadors for spreading the word. Above all, they hope visitors feel the nostalgia of a classic diner and the warmth of a place where everyone knows each other, and leave with a new memory worth coming back for.

Their story shows that historic preservation and economic development can go hand in hand. By saving a beloved roadside diner, reimagining it for a new generation, and creating inviting spaces for people to gather, the family has transformed a threatened landmark into a vibrant destination. With support from CAEDC’s Tourism Product Development Grant, Silver Side Cafe & Creamery not only preserves history—it’s creating new memories for residents and visitors throughout Cumberland Valley.

Learn more about Silver Side Cafe & Creamery: SilverSidePA.com

Photo credit: Benjamin Burner, Digital Communications Specialist, Cumberland County, PA