About
Jumbars was established in November 2003 by Chef Paul Hoffert and his wife Mary. Chef Paul graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in 1988 and continued to live and work in Montepelier, Vermont until 1996, when they moved back home to the Lehigh Valley. They opened the café to provide a venue for fresh, hand-crafted cuisine, good conversation, and a sense of community. Even after Mary’s passing in 2008, the Hoffert family continues the Jumbars legacy by providing first class food and atmosphere to the Lehigh Valley.
Why the Name?
Jumbars was named after Mary’s great grandmother, Anna Jumbar. Anna immigrated to the United States, alone and in her teens, in 1876. She settled in Lansford, Pennsylvania. Unable to find work, she convinced the coal company to let her live in a box car that was broken down beyond repair. She installed a coal stove and set up long tables to feed the coal miners. Later on, she met her husband, Stephen, and the two of them became pioneers, helping other immigrants in the area find housing and employment.
