About the Owner

On April 2, 1988, I, Charles Sekula, being from the Munich area, opened a little restaurant named "Schmankerl Stube", so that I could share with the community and beyond the authentic Bavarian cuisine and hospitality with which I had grown up.

Located on the corner of Antietam and South Potomac streets, the restaurant was the first revitalization project on this block of South Potomac Street undertaken by the City of Hagerstown. It is with great pride that we have just celebrated our 17th anniversary! With our chef, Dieter Blosel from Nuernberg, Germany and his assistant, Diana Collins, as well as a wait staff dressed in real Bavarian dirndls, we strive to keep the atmosphere and decor in the restaurant as typically Bavarian as is possible.

We offer a Biergarten (outdoor patio) very reminiscent of Bavaria, where you may enjoy a light snack, full course meal or just relax while sampling our selection of wines, German draft beers or fine domestic and imported cordials. To add to the atmosphere, all of our German draft beers are served in genuine German mugs (glass, 1/2 liter, 1 Liter & 5 Liter Humpen/Stein).

The Schmankerl Stube is very proud of its "Made to Order" entrees. It may take a little longer than some restaurants, but our customers feel that the authenticity and freshness of our Bavarian cuisine is worth the wait. We offer such ethnic dishes as Sauerbraten, Wiener Schnitzel, Schweinshaxe (Bavarian Pork shank), Kalbshaxe (Veal shank), Schweinebraten (Bavarian Roasted Pork), as well as chicken, shrimp and steak dishes. A luncheon menu boasts a fine array of German deli sandwiches, as well as salads and hot luncheon specials. Our full dinner menu is available throughout the day as well.

We have had many guests both American and German ask what the meaning of "Schmankerl Stube" is. "Schmankerl" is a Bavarian dialect term for something typically from Bavaria, and "Stube" is a room with a comfortable setting. So "Schmankerl Stube" translated, means Bavarian Specialty Room!

With the promise of true hospitality and cuisine from our homeland, we invite you to dine with us so that you may learn the meaning of "Gemutlichkeit"!!

Email: charlie@schmankerlstube.com