Zehnder's facts for kids
Zehnder's is a very big and famous restaurant located in Frankenmuth, Michigan. It can serve 1,500 people at one time! Zehnder's is well-known for its all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners. They also offer tasty seafood, steaks, fresh baked goods, and delicious European desserts. Every year, Zehnder's serves almost a million people. In the 1980s, it was one of the ten largest restaurants in the United States.
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The Story of Zehnder's Restaurant
Zehnder's restaurant building has a long history. It was first built in 1856 by Henry Reichle. Back then, it was a hotel called the Exchange Hotel. Mr. Reichle ran the hotel for 20 years. After that, it was sold and managed by several different people over time.
How Zehnder's Began
In 1927, a man named William Zehnder Sr. bought the hotel. He decided to make many changes to the building. He even redesigned its front to look like Mount Vernon, a famous historical home. After World War II, the business started to grow very quickly. More and more people came to eat and stay.
Growing the Family Business
In March 1947, William Zehnder Sr. handed the business over to his children. The business then became a corporation, which means it was owned by many people, like a company. In the 1950s, the Zehnder family bought another hotel across the street called Fischer's Hotel. They changed its name to the Bavarian Inn in 1959.
In 1955, two of William Zehnder Sr.'s sons, William Zehnder Jr. and Edwin Zehnder, took over the main Zehnder's business. William Jr. managed the Bavarian Inn, and Edwin managed Zehnder's Restaurant. They decided to re-decorate Zehnder's Restaurant with a Bavarian theme. They got this idea after visiting Bavaria in Germany on vacation. They even started the annual Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival during their grand re-opening celebration!
Friendly Family Competition
By 1984, Zehnder's and the Bavarian Inn became separate companies. Even though they were separate, the relatives who owned them had a friendly competition. They both worked hard to make their restaurants great.
Awards and Recognition
John Zehnder, who is the head chef and food manager at Zehnder's, received a special award in 2011. It was called the Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award from the American Culinary Federation. This award shows how skilled and successful he is in the cooking world.
