16-year-old Pennsylvania student opens second restaurant, plans third location

# 16-Year-Old Pennsylvania Entrepreneur Opens His Second Restaurant

At just 16 years old, Gage Klein is already building a restaurant business that many entrepreneurs twice his age would find challenging. The York County, Pennsylvania, teenager has opened his second restaurant, expanding his Driftwood brand with a new location in West York.

Called Driftwood at the Fairgrounds, the restaurant at 1277 W. Market St. serves a casual American menu featuring burgers, cheesesteaks, subs, wings, hand-cut fries and other popular comfort foods. The new location follows the opening of Driftwood at the Lake in the Lake Meade community of Adams County more than a year ago.

Klein’s interest in cooking began at home. He credits his mother with teaching him how to cook when he was young, while his father’s creativity also influenced his entrepreneurial ambitions. Spending time in the kitchen eventually developed into a passion for food and a dream of becoming a chef.

Rather than simply pursuing the idea of owning a restaurant someday, Klein decided to turn that ambition into reality. After discussing his plans with his parents, the family worked together to launch his first Driftwood location.

Driftwood at the Lake opened over the Fourth of July weekend last year in East Berlin. The restaurant quickly developed a following, with cheesesteaks, burgers and hand-cut fries becoming some of its most popular offerings.

The success of the first location encouraged Klein to take another step forward. Opening a second restaurant, however, has brought new responsibilities, including managing operations, making business decisions and traveling between locations.

Klein says learning to handle those responsibilities has been one of the biggest lessons of becoming a young business owner. His father initially had concerns about whether his son was ready, but those doubts gradually faded as Klein gained experience.

The teenager says community support has been a major motivation behind the business. Seeing customers visit his restaurants and enjoy the food has reinforced his determination to keep expanding.

The family also has a long-term plan for the restaurant group. Klein currently does not hold the majority ownership because he is under 18, with his father, Kris Klein, holding the majority stake so he can legally sign business documents. That arrangement is expected to change once Gage turns 18.

Klein is already thinking beyond his two existing locations. He hopes to open a third Driftwood restaurant in Hanover and plans to attend culinary school after graduating from high school.

His ambitions also extend beyond Pennsylvania. Klein has expressed interest in traveling to countries such as Italy and Germany to experience traditional food and learn more about cuisines in their places of origin.

For now, the young entrepreneur is focused on growing Driftwood and serving his local community. His story offers an unusual example of how a childhood interest can develop into a serious business venture when combined with family support, determination and a willingness to take on responsibility.

At 16, Klein has already achieved something many aspiring chefs and entrepreneurs spend years working toward: turning a passion for food into a growing restaurant business.