No, I’m not talking about a typical run-of-the-mill refrigerator that’s filled with containers of leftovers or locally sourced bar bites. I’m referring to the bottle shop and pizza café located on North Mulberry Street in Lancaster.

Wyatt Deutsch. How apropos is it that a guy whose last name means “German” now leads one of Lancaster’s best-loved destinations for craft beer?

Originally owned by Kevin Brown and James Futty, The Fridge joined Lancaster City’s eclectic roster of eateries and bistros in 2011, earning accolades such being among the country’s best “iconic college town restaurants” (USA Today), as well as among the best “Craft Beer Bars” (happyhourguys.com). But to understand The Fridge’s role in the community, we must go all the way back to the early 18th century to understand its significance.

In 1709, German immigrants made their new home in Conestoga, the fourth settlement of its kind in Lancaster County. Among the many cultural traditions and customs brought from their homeland, the first German-Americans arrived with a mighty thirst for beer, which was initially brewed inside taverns and inns. Breweries quickly began popping up to match the growing community’s penchant for steins of beer.

By the 19th century, Lancaster County was a well-known hotbed of breweries, earning the nickname “Little Munich” after The Daily Intelligencer published a story in 1868 that cited the area’s growing brewing industry: “Lancaster in America occupies the same position that Munich does in Germany.”

Fast forward to 2019. On a warm spring afternoon, I was sitting beside a console television on a sidewalk in Lancaster. I had greatly underestimated the weight of the massive television – which I had found on the sidewalk a few minutes earlier – and I was only able to carry it halfway to my apartment before losing my grip. I sat next to the TV in defeat, cursing my hubris and wondering how I was going to finish my poorly thought-out venture, when the friendly face of Wyatt Deutsch appeared.

Wyatt, a Warwick High School alumnus and recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, was dropping off his résumé at local restaurants and cafés. Instead of finding a job, he had stumbled across a gargantuan TV and a sweaty fool.

After Wyatt graciously helped me haul the TV to my apartment, I spent a few minutes talking to him and his now-wife, Alex Douglas-Deutsch (the two were wed in an August 2020 ceremony that featured a greatly reduced guest list and the option to watch it via Zoom). Alex shared that it was their dream to someday run a restaurant together.

At this point, you’re probably wondering what this article is even about. Well, now you know two things: Beer has played an important role in Lancaster County for hundreds of years, and Wyatt Deutsch is the kind of guy who will help you carry a 100-pound TV down the block. I’m also happy to report that five years after meeting him, his dream of owning a restaurant came true. In April 2024, Wyatt took over as owner of The Fridge, after he and Alex had spent a few years learning the ins and outs of the local craft beer and food industry as it weathered the pandemic.

“It’s really something how in the blink of an eye your whole life changes,” Wyatt says, noting, “That’s the thing Alex says all the time. How many people can say they chased their dream?” he asks. Former owner, James Futty, was thrilled for Wyatt and posted on Facebook, “I couldn’t be more happy or proud to say, congratulations to Wyatt Deutsch, the new owner of The Fridge!!! After pouring so much of my own heart and soul into the business, I’m genuinely excited to see how The Fridge continues to evolve and grow with the energy of Wyatt’s passion, vision and dedication to cultivate The Fridge’s full potential. It’s gonna be awesome!”

Wyatt’s vision for The Fridge is reflective of the beer industry’s longstanding importance to the Lancaster community. Although he has no desire to change the formula that made The Fridge a cornerstone of the local craft beer scene, Wyatt shared he’s brainstorming a few ideas to expand the restaurant’s role in the community. “Lancaster’s a really tight-knit community, and we want to get more involved,” he explains. “Whether you’re in Lititz, Strasburg or down in Solanco, you want a good community, and we’re fortunate to have that backbone.”

Wyatt also attested to the camaraderie that exists among the area’s growing number of craft breweries. “That’s my favorite thing about this community specifically; we’re all trying to help each other out,” Wyatt says. “There are more than 30 breweries in the county now, and we like to recommend them to visitors. Each brewery is getting better and better every year.”

For more information, visit Beerfridgelancaster.com.

This story ran earlier in the community newspapers – Merchandiser, Advertiser and Pennysaver – that are published by Engle Printing & Publishing, Townlively.com.