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Grabill, Indiana - - It is Saturday morning and the sound of the steel wheels rumble against the pavement as members of the Old Order Amish work their way into town. Horses and carriages are tied by the hardware and bank as these citizens go about their daily routine. This is just another day in Grabill, but to others it is very special and inviting. Life is a little slower here, you just feel a little more comfortable and relaxed. You have Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Shipshewana and Middleberry, Indiana and Holmes County, Ohio. These are heavily populated Amish areas where tourism is a part of life. In Grabill you are coming to real life, not a pretend atmosphere. We say it is "just a few miles off the road, but years back in time".

This small town of less than 1,000 good folk, is just 15 minutes from Ft. Wayne. In addition to the Old Order Amish, Grabill features one of the largest and best antique complexes in the country. Come and browse through the 30,000 sq. ft. of display at the Country Shops of Grabill. Each room of the complex is set up in a room setting or in a decorative display. The facility is not a collection of 10' X 10' spaces where junk is king. They have a complete mercantile, an herb shop, a garden room, lots of oak furniture, great glassware, painted country, primitives, an art gallery and much more. When you think of quality antiques you should think Grabill. H. Souder & Sons General Store will bring back memories of the time when you and your friends visited the corner store for a 10 cent coke and chocolate bar. Barrels of penny candy, shelves full of preserves and vegetables, fresh baked bread, cookies and pies, unusual food items, South Bend Chocolates, fabric, candles, coffee, teas, old fashioned toys, cards and gifts, books, Amish memorabilia, and notions fill the store. Come in and regain the memories of those care free days of your youth. H. Souder & Sons, General Merchandisers is a Grabill tradition.

The Home and Gardens of Elias Ruff is a "can't miss" while you are visiting Grabill. The building was the home of the Rev. Elias Ruff and was built in 1791 in Green County, Pennsylvania. They dismantled the home and moved it to Grabill in 1985. Regional Amish furniture lines the walls. The bread is served from an Amish dough table from the 1 800's. Drinks come from the handmade and original painted dry sink, The pies are kept safe from varmints in their screened pie safe. The good dishes are in the cupboard awaiting special guests and each table is lit by the inviting flicker of a working oil lamp. Unbutton your pants for their famous family style meals or order from the nightly creations. Whatever you do, don't forget to order the universe's favorite chicken. It is out of this worid. Fresh coffee is aiways fresh roasted and ground daily at H. Souder & Sons. For an appetizer how about their Amish Peanut Butter or Church Pickles or even some Common Crackers. The fresh baked apple walnut pie is nothing to sneeze at either. Best dog gone country cooking around. Bring guests, there is plenty to go around.

Grabill is not just a stop any more, it is a destination. Voted Ft. Wayne's "favorite little town", they would like to make it your favorite iittle town, too. Come and see that they have a great, unique hardware store, several other nice antique and craft shops to browse in (The Old Lumberyard, Fudge and Coffee Shop, Catalpa Tree and Peddler's Corner), interesting cabinet shops, a bank where the people still know your first name, and just world class, friendly people. So, head on out to Grabill - there is lots of good, old fashioned times to be had for everyone. The hours of the Country Shops of Grabill and H. Souder & Sons General Store are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Home of Elias Ruff Restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday hours are 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. On Sundays. They are closed all important holidays.

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