While Lancaster may feel small to those who live here, it might be bigger than a lot of people think.
After all, the city has been described as a mini-Brooklyn, which as brought people here from all across the world, ranging from food enthusiasts to musicians.
Here are some big names that have stopped by our corner of the world in the past few years, including a recent visit from Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler.
Steven Tyler
Ahead of the start of Aerosmith’s “Farewell” Tour in Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 2023, frontman Steven Tyler was spotted at the Bomberger’s hardware store in Lititz on Aug. 15.
Tyler mingled with customers and staff while purchasing a new shower head, according to Bomberger’s assistant manager Mike Hathaway.
Hathaway noted it was the store’s second celebrity encounter; around a decade prior, Taylor Swift visited Bomberger’s to buy paint.
Tyler later swung by Lititz Music Co. on Aug. 26, purchasing a number of classic vinyl records and demonstrating his musical skills on various instruments, including an impromptu performance of Aerosmith’s breakout hit “Dream On” on a melodica.
![Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler spotted in Lititz store Tuesday [update]](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/lancasteronline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/5a/65af9e78-3c70-11ee-86b1-6b10d6241494/64dd2cbe6cb85.image.jpg?resize=1662%2C1247)
Steve Zahn
Actor Steve Zahn stopped by record store and boutique Dreaming Human in Lancaster city in the morning on June 15, 2023.
Zahn entered the store, at 154 N. Prince St., with his son, Henry. They left with a book, Dreaming Human owner Day Jones says.
Film and TV actor Steve Zahn was spotted at several businesses in downtown Lancaster Thursday and Friday, June 15 and 16, including record sto…
Jonathan Groff
Groff, a Conestoga Valley graduate who has made a name for himself on Broadway stages as well as TV and film, has returned to his home county numerous times over the years. He most recently visited the Ware Center in September to talk with young actors from the Millersville University Theatre Group. Groff also hung out backstage at Hempfield High School’s performance of “The Wizard of Oz” in March 2022 and made a surprise appearance at the Strasburg Memorial Day Parade in 2021.
Actor Jonathan Groff of film and television fame paid a visit to the Ware Center in Lancaster Friday afternoon to inspire aspiring actors with…
Roddy Ricch
Spice Kings, a restaurant in Lancaster city that serves hibachi, fried seafood and specialty fries, among other foods, posted on its Instagram page on Sept. 11, 2022, that it made food for Grammy-winning rapper Roddy Ricch three days in a row.
Shawn Mendes
Pop singer Shawn Mendes posted a serious of photos on his Instagram from Rock Lititz on Friday, June 17, 2022.
In one of the photos, Mendes walks through a parking lot with a shirt loosely draped around his neck, with a Rock Lititz building in sight behind him. The sign is also in the background of a photo where Mendes sits at a picnic table with a few other people. While the signage is only clear in two photos, the other images appear to be taken around the Rock Lititz property as well.
It’s unclear when or why Mendes was at Rock Lititz.
Shawn Mendes posts pictures from Rock Lititz on his Instagram
Elvis Duran
Radio personality Elvis Duran and his cohosts Danielle Monaro, Medha Gandhi and Nate Marino visited Lancaster city’s Queen Street Bistro Friday April 22, 2022, at an afternoon event hosted by WLAN FM 97.
The private happy hour event celebrated the 10th anniversary of “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show” being on air in central Pennsylvania via WLAN. Duran’s show, recorded in New York, is syndicated through iHeartRadio and has more than 5.5 million listeners weekly.
Rupert Grint
Rupert Grint, known for playing Ron Weasley in the “Harry Potter” movies, was spotted in Lancaster city in the evening of Wednesday April 13, 2022 with his girlfriend, Georgia Groome, and Wednesday, their daughter.
Morgan Black and Ryan Mihoci were taking photos for an engagement photoshoot near Lancaster Central Market and Shot & Bottle when they saw Grint, according to photographer Lauren Bliss.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber ate at the City Star Diner in Manheim on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022.
Kathy Said, head server at the City Star Diner, says she didn’t believe when another server told her that Justin Bieber was in the restaurant.
“He came walking in and one of the waitresses was like, ‘That’s Justin Bieber,’ and we’re like, ‘No it isn’t.’ And then his body guards came in and then we walked over to him, and yeah, it was him,” Said says.
Bieber had a bacon, egg and cheese croissant, Said says. One of Bieber’s bodyguards had pancakes. Said, who has worked at the diner for 10 years, was the bodyguard’s server and another server helped Bieber, Said says.
Dr. Oz
Television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz paid a visit to Lancaster County on Monday, June 14, 2021, and made a few stops at some local establishments.
Dr. Oz, as he’s known professionally, stopped at The Amish Farm and House and took a tour of both the house and farm to experience Amish country. Tim Talley, a tour guide and bus driver at The Amish Farm and House, thought he recognized the famous TV physician, so he called out his name. Oz, in turn, replied “Hey, what’s your name?” as they shook hands.
Oz also posted on his Instagram that he visited Central Market Flowers in Lancaster city.
Micky Dolenz
Actor and musician Micky Dolenz had duck confit salad and clam chowder for lunch at the Belvedere Inn, 402 N. Queen St., on Monday. The former member of The Monkees posed for pictures, and talked about backyard grilling, with executive Chef Daniel LeBoon, right.
Chef Daniel LeBoon was busy preparing Lancaster City Restaurant Week specials for lunch at the Belvedere Inn on Monday, March 4, 2019, when the front-door manager came in to say she thought there might be a famous musician in the dining room.
LeBoon, son of a die-hard fan of the 1960s group The Monkees, walked into the dining room and instantly recognized that Micky Dolenz was sitting in his restaurant.
Dolenz was still in town after his Sunday night concert, with fellow former Monkee Michael Nesmith, at the American Music Theatre.
Mena Suvari
Actress Mena Suvari spent time after Thanksgiving 2019 in Lancaster County.
While at Root, a vegan restaurant in Lancaster, she learned about Lancaster Farm Sanctuary. Sunday, Nov. 30, she visited the farm animal rescue refuge in Elizabethtown.
Alton Brown
The chef, author and host of Food Network’s “Good Eats” dined at Luca, the Italian restaurant on James Street in Lancaster city, in November 2017 and made a bold statement about a menu item on his Instagram account: “The best salad in the world is in Lancaster, PA.”
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart, center, enjoyed food prepared by local caterers Christina Maldonado, left, and Dianne Gadbois.
It’s not every day that a celebrity walks through the doors at Scratch Bakes, 3 W. Main St., Ephrata, but January 2018 was different as Martha Stewart paid a visit to the cafe/bakery to grab some lunch to go.
Chef Robert Irvine
The “Restaurant: Impossible” star made a stop in Lancaster County back in April 2023 to sign hundreds of bottles of his new line of Irvine’s Spirits at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits store at the Shoppes at Belmont on Fruitville Pike.
Many members of the military and first responders took time to thank Irvine for his support as a portion of the proceeds of the liquor sales benefit the Robert Irvine Foundation, which “supports and strengthens the physical and mental well-being of our service members, veterans, first responders, and their families,” according to its website.
Dan Aykroyd
Actor/writer/musician/vodka entrepreneur Dan Aykroyd visited the Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection store, in Centerville Square, in East Hempfield Township Friday, Nov. 15, 2019. Aykroyd signed bottles of his Crystal Head vodka and talked to fans.
Aykroyd made his presence known in Lancaster in 2019 when he stopped by to sign bottles of his latest release of Crystal Head vodka.
Ariana Grande
The pop star visited Lancaster County back in 2019 ahead of her Sweetener World Tour, rehearsing at Rock Lititz and stopping by Starbucks and Target locations nearby.
Katy Perry
Jamara Lewis, who works at Olive Garden, poses for a selfie with pop superstar Katy Perry Sunday night in the restaurant’s parking lot.
Cory van Brookhoven and his co-workers had visited the Amish Farm & House in September 2017 when a group of about nine people walked in to take the last tour of the day.
In the midst of them was a slight woman in an Adidas ball cap, sunglasses and black-and-white T-shirt. Typical tourist — until she removed the ballcap and glasses.
Musician Katy Perry and her entourage, in the midst of rehearsals at Rock Lititz for the upcoming tour in support of her fifth studio album, “Witness,” had taken a break to visit some local attractions.
Henry Winkler
Ariana Grande loves Whole Foods, and the Fonz loves Shady Maple.
Actor Henry Winkler, famous for his roles in “Happy Days” and “Arrested Development,” tweeted about the Lancaster County landmark in 2019.
FOOD TIP: East Earl PA .. The Shady Maple (all you can eat )
Oh My it’s good— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) May 23, 2019
William H. Macy
The 63-year-old Macy had his picture taken with Lancaster resident Phillip Mansi, who submitted the photo to the Only in Lancaster – PA Facebook page.
Actor William H. Macy, who will forever be remembered for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in the movie “Fargo,” was shopping at the Ephrata Walmart in 2014.
The 74-year-old Macy was described as being “very, very gracious” by well wishers and paused to have his picture taken with Lancaster resident Phillip Mansi, who submitted the photo to the Only in Lancaster – PA Facebook page.
Posing with actor William H. Macy at Gus’s Keystone Restaurant in Ephrata are, from left, staff members Melissa Hostetter, Rose Norton, Hannah Holbritter, MaryBeth Boyle and Laura DelRossi, and, in front, Heather Burkholder.
Macy has also paid a visit to Gus’s Keystone Restaurant in Ephrata in April 2018.
Macy kindly posed for a picture with the staff in the restaurant’s empty banquet room.
“He sat down and ate,” Dino Papazekos said, ordering a tuna sandwich on wheat.
Macy visited the county again in 2021, making a stop at Mad Chef Craft Brewing in East Petersburg.
“He’s a very humble individual, just very nonchalant,” co-owner Francisco Ramirez said. “He just came in and wanted to get some food. I’m very honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to have him walk into the pub.”
Macy made a return to the county in 2023, dining at Nonna Rosa Traditional Italian Kitchen in Akron and Fratelli’s Pizza in Ephrata. Locals also spotted him at the Weis in Ephrata as well.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is greeted by people who recognize her as she walks through Lancaster Central Market, in this file photo from April 2017.
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, author and advocate for educating all children, already this week has been named the United Nations Messenger of Peace. Wednesday, she will be in Ottawa, visiting with the Canadian Parliament and receiving an honorary Canadian citizenship.
In April 2017, she was in Lancaster — not to receive an honor but, in effect, to offer one. “I am here to salute you for what you do,” Yousafzai told an audience of about 300 at Church World Service Lancaster’s Community Appreciation Breakfast. “(Lancaster) is the refugee capital of America.”
Malala Yousafzai prepares for lunch with guests at Himalayan on East Orange Street.
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons bassist Ted Dwane (left), a tour manager and members of the touring band were in Lancaster County last week, practicing at Rock Lititz for tour that started Tuesday. They had beers and wings at Yorgos Restaurant, too.
The crew came to Lancaster County to rehearse at Rock Lititz for a big tour supporting its latest album, “Wilder Mind.” A group, including bassist Ted Dwane, tour musicians and a manager, stopped at Yorgos in 2015. They were so unassuming, not many people in the downtown restaurant recognized them as musicians who’ve sold more than 10 million albums.
Donnie Wahlberg
As it turns out, when you’re performing at Hersheypark Arena, you’re probably going to spend the day prior riding roller coasters.
Or, at least, that’s what Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) did.
Before a Saturday night show in 2019, Wahlberg held an impromptu dance session in the park, posting his moves to Instagram.
Carson Kressley
Television personality Carson Kressley, right,made a surprise visit to Lancaster this week. Here, Kressley is pictured shopping on the 300 block of North Queen Street with John Guerrera, of Coatesville on Wednesday July 12, 2017.
Carson Kressley, best known for being a part of the Fab Five on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” was seen shopping and dining in downtown Lancaster in July 2017.
Kressley, who was visiting with friend John Guerrera of Coatesville, said it was his first time to Lancaster and had already visited local shops downtown when spotted along North Queen Street. Shops that he visited included Building Character and The Art and Glassworks, and the duo enjoyed lunch at The Belvedere.
Bill Clinton
Former President Bill Clinton made a surprise visit at Prince St. Cafe on Sunday, April 24, 2016.
Bill Clinton made an impromptu stop at Prince Street Cafe in downtown Lancaster in 2016, campaigning in support of his wife, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton.
The former president spent about 45 minutes outside and inside the eatery, worked his way around to shake hands, took pictures and talked policy.
Colin Jost
Colin Jost, left, and Nick Reiner at Wednesday night’s Wax on Wednesday event at Tellus360. Reiner, better known as DJ Salinger, hosts the event weekly.
During a 2017 event at Tellus360, DJ Nick Reiner noticed a famous face in the crowd: Colin Jost, a host of “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live.”
Jost was in town performing for a student-only event at Millersville University. Around midnight, Reiner says he showed up at Tellus360. The comedian stayed until a little after 1 a.m.
David Blaine
The magician David Blaine, known for his endurance feats like encasing himself in a suspended glass box, stopped by Lancaster’s Belvedere Inn in November 2015.
Customer Robert Diggs said a Belvedere Inn employee approached Blaine and started conversation. Diggs was sitting nearby, so he asked Blaine about his Brooklyn roots, which they bonded over.
Blaine ate a second time in a Lancaster city mainstay in Sept. 2022. He visited Horse Inn and showed the staff a few card tricks.
Taylor Kinney
Actor and Neffsville native Taylor Kinney, left, helped Lancaster man Cary Ahl after his tire blew out on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2018.
Taylor Kinney was spotted helping a couple with a blown out tire in Lancaster back in 2018.
“I had noticed that a gentleman had come out of the pickup truck and took his cowboy hat off,” said Chris Kurtz. “He walked up to the guy slowly. … There it was, Taylor Kinney, just helping.”
Kinney, 37, a Neffsville native and Lancaster Mennonite High School alumnus, is one of the stars of the NBC drama “Chicago Fire.” He plays Lt. Kelly Severide.
Kate Flannery
Kate Flannery, “The Office” actress, poses with Jeremy Pombo. Flannery visited Commonwealth on Queen Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, while performing in “Dancing with the Stars: Live!” at the American Music Theatre.
Kate Flannery stopped by Commonwealth on Queen in downtown Lancaster while in town for the “Dancing with the Stars: Live” tour in 2020.
Flannery was friendly and talkative, according to Commonwealth staff.
Jeremy Pombo, Commonwealth’s kitchen manager, had a chance to speak with Flannery, Reinmiller said. She mentioned that she enjoyed her meal and thanked him for getting her group’s orders right, Reinmiller said.
Green Day
Grammy award-winning rock band Green Day stopped by Decades Lancaster for food and bowling, and the Belvedere Inn for karaoke while likely preparing for their Hella Mega Tour in 2020.
According to Decades Marketing Manager Jonathan Yeager, Decades had arranged an “Employee Birthday Party,” which then ended up being an ad hoc birthday party for Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, who turned 48 on Monday.
“I was just very amazed by how down to earth and nice they were,” says Liz Frandsen, one of the attendees to karaoke night. “You think that celebrities might be off putting in some way, but it was cool to hang out with a band and their crew and have a nice, chill night.”
Squeeze
Squeeze opened for Hall & Oates at the Giant Center in Hershey Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, and made a stop at the Hideaway Bar in Lititz for some pool before the show.
A video posted on the band’s Facebook page on Wednesday morning, titled “Squeeze day off, Lititz PA,” shows scenes of the band drinking, shooting pool and engaging in general tomfoolery at the bar.
