The Bricker Family, who have worked through the years at the Bricker Cafeteria, gather to support owner Greg Bricker as he talks about the sale of the family business. From left, Butch Snyder, Bricker’s stepfather; Bricker holding his daughter Claire; Janice Snyder, Bricker’s mother; and Ann and Dan Dietz, Bricker’s aunt and uncle. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL — After 93 years of being in business and operated by multiple generations of Brickers, Bricker’s Cafeteria, known to many as Bricker’s Cafe, will soon be owned by a new family.

The cafe downtown at 116 E. Sixth St. is being sold by current owner Greg Bricker to Chef Ray Stephens, owner of Chef Ray’s Diamond Bar and Grill and Chef Ray’s Cafe.

While Stephens will be the new owner, his daughter Tosha Stephens will be the general manager.

“It was an incredibly hard decision, but we’re happy it’s going to be a great family,” Bricker said. “Many of the employees and customers became like family over the years and we can’t thank them enough.”

Bricker said the decision to sell was a tough one, but with his other business and his family both growing he needs to concentrate his time elsewhere.

Greg Bricker, current owner of Bricker’s Cafeteria, stands with his daughter Claire and the cafe’s new owner Chef Ray Stephens outside the cafe. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

“It certainly hurts, an emotional decision, but it’s for the best,” Bricker said. “Best for the employees, the business, the community and my family. I am going back to owning one business and having one job.”

Bricker, who is the last of four generations that is still in the area, recounts how employees would see many customers as they walked across the street to come in to cafe and they would start getting their orders ready for them. The cafe also was known for its cookies, pies and lunch meat.

“It was certainly more than just a business,” Bricker said.

Bricker owned the cafe for two years after buying it from his uncle Dan Dietz when he retired in 2021, trying to keep the story alive but it became too much. The business was started by Bricker’s grandfather Harold.

Ray Stephens said the business was undergoing a name change because the family wanted the name changed if it ever sold outside the family. It will now be the Sixth Street Cafeteria and Deli. Bricker noted that it was his grandfather’s wish that if the business ever left the family the name be changed.

Bricker’s Cafeteria, which has been a popular bakery, deli, and cafe in downtown East Liverpool for 93 years, will soon be under new ownership with a new name. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

“It’s sad that its not going to be the Bricker name anymore but it’s nice that it’s going to be carried on as a restaurant after 90 some years,” said Dietz, who started working at the cafe in 1989 and purchased it in 1997.

Dietz noted that when he owned the business, his father-in-law and sisters-in-law worked there and helped him run it, until one by one they left.

“It’s hard to run a family business without family,” Dietz said. “Ray (Stephens) has family that will help him work here wish him luck with everything.”

Ann Dietz, Dan’s wife and Bricker’s aunt, said she and her sisters all worked there growing up so it’s very difficult for her to see it sell.

“But it’s not closing so I’m very excited about that and to see that another family is taking it over,” Ann said. “We can pass the legacy down and we wish him (Stephens) the best of the best. I think our parents would be happy to see it happen with another family.”

Longtime customers Erin Grodhaus and Cindy Mick take in one last meal at Bricker’s Cafeteria before it changes ownership. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

“We plan on carrying on the tradition and keeping everything the same the same employees and just trying to improve things tweak things make them even better and hopefully attract some more people in and people that haven’t been in for a while and just carry on the tradition,” Stephens said.

Stephens said he decided to purchase the cafe after talking to Bricker and knowing that he would like to sell it.

“Personally, myself, I didn’t want to see some outsider come in and change things and change employees,” Stephens said. “We want to keep everything the way it’s been for the last 93 years and so that’s what we are going to do.”

Stephens said he and his family are very excited about purchasing the cafe and can’t wait to get started with it.

He also noted that he and Bricker being the friends that they are, he was able to help Bricker and Bricker is helping him give this a try.

“It is going to be a great transition for everybody,” Stephens said. “I think the employees are all excited to work for me. I have a really good reputation as being a great boss to work for and I hope we can carry that on here and I have three other restaurants.”

Stephens said he plans to keep everything the same — the same food, the same pies, the same employees and the same hours. The only things that will change is the name and the sign on the building.

He plans to keep the decor of the restaurant the same, keeping the reprints of the photos and the mural. He does plan to do some improvements such as new floors, some painting and possibly replacing a couple pieces of equipment.

Stephens noted that the cafe has been a staple in the downtown area, and they are trying to get the city back to what it once was. He said there have been a lot of positive things happening in the city and this is just one more positive thing to happen.

The final day for Bricker’s Cafeteria will be Sunday. At 12:01 a.m. on Monday it will officially change to the Sixth Street Cafeteria and Deli.

“We are excited as new owners and working with Greg (Bricker) has been a great pleasure and the Bricker family has offered any assistance I might need,” Stephens said. “I am going to take advice from Dan (Dietz). I think all the employees are happy and it’s going to be a win-win situation. I hope to continue the great reputation it has had for 93 years and get it thriving again.”

Longtime customers Alica Board and her mother Lisa said they were excited about the sale.

“They do wonderful here,” Alicia said. “I would like to see the new owners more involved and see their faces in the business. We love coming here and we have come here for many years.”

Sue Laudrille, another longtime customer, said she was glad that Stephens is purchasing the cafe because she would hate to see it leave.

“You don’t find this very often, this kind of style,” Laudrille said.

Cindy Mick said she didn’t know how she feels about the sale, but she is glad they are not closing. She also noted that she has always liked the food there.