Kopp's Frozen Custard

Kopp's Frozen Custard
Private
Industry Restaurant
Founded 1950 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Founder Elsa Kopp
Headquarters 7631 W Layton Ave
Greenfield, Wisconsin, WI 53220
United States
Area served
 Milwaukee metropolitan area
Key people
 Elsa Kopp, founder (deceased)
Karl Kopp (son), owner of Greenfield and Glendale stands
Mac McGuire, owner of Brookfield stand
Products fast casual restaurants specializing in frozen custard, jumbo burgers
Website www.kopps.com

Kopp's Frozen Custard is a restaurant chain located in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. It specializes in frozen custard and large "jumbo" hamburgers. Founded by Elsa Kopp in 1950, the restaurants continue to be heralded by local publications for their quality food.[1] They have locations in three Milwaukee suburbs.

Kopp's was the first custard stand to offer a special "flavor of the day" in addition to the more traditional chocolate and vanilla flavors.[2]

History

Founding

Elsa Kopp opened the first Kopp's stand at 6005 W. Appleton Ave., Milwaukee, Wisconsin (now the site of Junior's Frozen Custard) in 1950.[3] A German immigrant with no prior business experience, Kopp started the stand after her husband, Karl Kopp, developed Parkinson's disease.

Some support in starting the business came from Leon Schneider, a custard machine repairman (the founder of Leon's Frozen Custard in 1942), whom Elsa Kopp had met while working at a bakery.

The Kopp's frozen custard stand rose in popularity quickly during the 1950s and was soon seen as a Milwaukee staple.[4]

The Glendale location (5373 N. Port Washington Ave.) is on the site of the former Milky Way drive-in restaurant, the inspiration for the external look of the Happy Days diner, Arnold's Drive-In.

Kopp's is now owned by Elsa's son, Karl Kopp, who also owns restaurants in Arizona and New York.[5][6]

Flavor of the day

By 1960 the Kopp's stand was successful enough that Elsa felt comfortable experimenting with more exotic frozen custard recipes. Initially she mixed chocolate and vanilla, in the process committing what many in the early frozen custard community considered a heretical act. After this, Kopp's began offering increasingly diverse concoctions which became their well known "flavor of the day" menu option.[2] Kopp's offers two unique flavors every day and a featured shake and sundae of the month. The featured flavors are often related to events for that day or month.[7] Flavors of the day are developed by employees and approved by Karl Kopp.[7]

Joe Biden visit

In June 2010, Vice President Joe Biden visited a Kopp’s Frozen Custard location while campaigning for Democratic Senator Russ Feingold. Biden asked the manager of Kopp’s what he owed for his custard. In response, the manager stated “Don’t worry, it’s on the house. Lower our taxes and we’ll call it even.” In response, Biden came back later to the manager and said, “Why don’t you say something nice instead of being a smartass all the time?” The story was covered by both local and national news agencies.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Kopp's, Oscar's top our custard dream team". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007.
  2. 1 2 "A peaches 'n' cream career". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  3. ↑ Trousil, Carrie. "Kopp's Frozen Custard". About.com Milwaukee. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  4. ↑ "Custard Cool-Off". Shepherd Express. Archived from the original on March 20, 2006.
  5. ↑ Tarnoff, Andy (April 14, 2004). "Kopp's restaurant empire doesn't stop at state line". OnMilwaukee.com.
  6. ↑ Tarnoff, Andy (March 10, 2009). "Milwaukee's Kopp continues westward expansion with Hanny's". OnMilwaukee.com.
  7. 1 2 "Need a treat? Check the flavor forecast at Kopp's Frozen Custard". Studio A. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Tribune Company. July 17, 2014. Fox6 (WITI).
  8. ↑ "V.P. Joe Biden Visits Kopp's Custard; Banters With Manager". Milwaukee, Wisconsin: WISN-TV. June 26, 2010.

Further reading

External links

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