Dental office opens in location of former Hilltown diner

Weaver, Reckner & Reinhart Dental Associates celebrated the grand opening of its new Hilltown office Thursday, Dec. 5 with a special open house event and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Hosted by the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce, the event treated dozens of guests to guided tours of the facility and meet-and-greets with the dentists and support staff.

“This facility not only reflects their dedication to staying at the forefront of their field but also a significant investment in the health and well-being of everyone they serve,” said Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steve Hunsberger.

The office is located in the space of the former R&S Keystone Diner at 4714 Bethlehem Pike. The company, which has an additional location in Harleysville, announced its decision to relocate to the property from its original Souderton Center location in May 2023.

“With our continued growth and the addition of dental services to the communities around Souderton, we need more space, which will offer our patients more comfort and ease of scheduling,” said the company.

    Guests tour the new facility, featuring 12 treatment rooms with the latest dental technology.
 By John Worthington | The Reporter   

The diner, a fixture in the community since its founding in 1948, closed in June 2023 to great fanfare after owner JoAnn Kerr retired. Kerr said that she sold the property to the dental company after failing to find any restaurant vendors.

“I tried to sell it as a restaurant but didn’t have any takers,” said Kerr. “It was right after the pandemic, so no one was gonna buy a restaurant at that time.”

After Weaver, Reckner & Reinhart purchased the property, the building was gutted to its shell before being redesigned by architect Glenn Ritter. The 83-year-old described the conversion as painless.

“I’ve converted churches into office buildings, banks into churches,” said Ritter. “You just give me a shell, I’ll put anything you want in it.”

    In an homage to R&S Keystone Diner, Weaver, Reckner & Reinhart’s new dental office preserved the restaurant’s exterior façade.
 By John Worthington | The Reporter   

The new office officially opened in October. The 8,000-square-foot facility boasts 12 treatment rooms, including for hygiene and restorative appointments, with the latest dental technology. Services run the gamut from routine cleanings to root canals and implants to botox cosmetic and facial rejuvenation.

In an homage to R&S Keystone Diner, the office preserved the restaurant’s exterior façade as well as its counter and appliances in the office’s break room.

“Not only is the facility absolutely beautiful, but what you were able to do to keep the personal touches of the diner and this landmark that has been here for so long is amazing,” said state Rep. Shelby Labs, who presented the company with a certificate from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. “I have friends and family members who were at the diner for lunch every single day, and I’m sure we all know a lot of people who did that.”

    Guests enjoy refreshments and socializing in the office’s break room.
 By John Worthington | The Reporter   

Partners Todd Weaver and John Reckner described feeling “overwhelmed” at the opening, a mark of the dental company’s growth since its humble beginnings 30 years ago.

“I think back to 1994 when we started with two employees, two dental chairs and two personal credit cards that were maxed out,” said Weaver. “But when you’re an entrepreneur, you don’t worry about those things. All you do worry about is the dream and you hope the rest works out.”

Reckner concluded by taking pride in the opportunity to continue the history of the space as well as the legacy of the company.

    Partner John Reckner speaks at the new Hilltown office’s grand opening ceremony.
 By John Worthington | The Reporter   

“I can tell you that we can’t compete with the turkey club and fries or waffles and extra bacon,” said Reckner. “But we’re gonna do our best to continue building strong relationships with our patients and our community like we’ve done for over 30 years.”

Weaver, Reckner & Reinhart Dental Associates is open on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit gotta-smile.com.

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