Mars Cheese Castle facts for kids
Mars Cheese Castle is a super cool and famous store in Kenosha, Wisconsin! It's like a special shop, deli, and even a place to grab a drink. People love to stop here when they're traveling on Interstate 94. It's known as a "cheese landmark" and a really famous spot for cheese in Wisconsin. Even though it's famous for cheese, you can also find yummy sausages, other foods, drinks like soda, and fun souvenirs like cheesehead hats!
This store is the oldest cheese shop in a very popular area for cheese. This area is where Interstate 94 meets Wisconsin Highway 142. For a long time, there were three cheese shops here, but now there are two.
Inside Mars Cheese Castle, you can find a deli that sells tasty burgers, bratwurst, and other sandwiches. The taproom offers many different kinds of beer, including special European beers and local Wisconsin brews. There's also a bakery where you can get fresh treats!
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History of Mars Cheese Castle
How Mars Cheese Castle Began
Mario Ventura, Sr., opened Mars Cheese Castle way back in 1947. The name "Mars" came from his own name, Mario, which is linked to the Roman god Mars. The "Castle" part was inspired by a real castle in Italy that his mom owned! A local artist named George Pollard designed the store's first logo. The original store had a giant beer bottle on its roof, but it sadly burned down in 1957. A new store was then built nearby.
Moving to a New Castle
In 2011, the Interstate 94 highway was being made wider. Because of this, Mars Cheese Castle had to move about 50 yards away from the road. The new store is more than twice as big as the old one! It was designed to look even more like a real castle. It has a tall watchtower where the store keeps its wine, and the entrance looks like a drawbridge, just like a real castle!
A special rule was passed by the Wisconsin Legislature (which is like the state's law-making group). This rule allowed the store to keep its really tall, 80-foot sign at the new spot. Usually, state law doesn't allow signs that tall.
Famous Visitors to the Castle
Mars Cheese Castle has had many famous people visit! The rock band Weezer even held a record signing there in 2001. Other famous visitors include Al Hirt, Al McGuire, John F. Kennedy, and Johnny Cash. Even U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden stopped at the store when he was campaigning for the 2012 presidential election.
