GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – From charcoal grills to championship seasons, Kroll’s West has been a gathering place for generations of Green Bay families, serving up more than burgers alongside Lambeau Field.
Inside the longtime restaurant, the food is only part of the story. For many customers, Kroll’s is a tradition built on friendships, memories and a sense of belonging that has lasted decades.
Karen Grunwald is part of a group known as the ‘Laughing Ladies,’ who have been meeting since the 1960s.
“We went to the east side back in the ’60s… we’ve been coming here once a month,” Grunwald said. “Our group has gotten smaller, down to three now. But they call us the ‘Laughing Ladies.’”
Once known as the ‘Golden Girls’, the women have eaten at the restaurant for years. Grunwald said the atmosphere is what keeps them coming back.
“When I walk in, they’re glad to see you,” Grunwald said. “They make you feel so welcome.”
That feeling is echoed by longtime customer Marilyn Donart, who says Kroll’s has been a gathering spot for milestones both big and small.
“It’s just nice to be with friends from many years ago,” Donart said. “They’re always very nice and accommodating here.”
Whether celebrating birthdays or simply sharing a meal, Donart said the staff goes out of its way to make customers feel at home.
“They don’t mind if we bring a cake and share it,” Donart said. “They make us feel very welcome.”
For the third lady in the group, it’s about ordering a favorite that never changes.
“Well, we love the hamburgers,” Joan Keup said.
Behind the counter is a family legacy that stretches back generations. Owner Mike Wier started working at Kroll’s when he was just 15 years old and has spent nearly six decades in the business.
“This place has a lot of family history here,” Wier said. “It’s a great business to be in if you’re a people person.”
For Wier, the reason the restaurant has endured comes down to one thing.
“The people,” Weir said. “People are the reason you get up in the morning.”
That philosophy extends to the staff, many of whom have worked at Kroll’s for decades.
“Some ladies have been here 40, 50 years,” Wier said. “They like to come to work, and we have so many repeat customers.”
Repeat customers like the ‘Laughing Ladies.’
General Manager Julia Bernard says Kroll’s isn’t just a workplace, it’s home. She started working there in high school and now has children who have grown up alongside the restaurant.
“I started here in high school,” Bernard said. “Now my kids were here with me. It’s always felt like a family.”
Bernard said the pace and people are what keep her coming back.
“I love that it’s never routine,” Bernard said. “The coworkers are amazing. It’s like my second family.”
Located across from Lambeau Field, Kroll’s West sees an influx of customers on game days. But, Wier said the restaurant’s focus has always remained the same.
“The interest of this business has always been local people,” he said.
And at the center of it all is a burger that has brought people together for generations.
Kroll’s has two locations in Green Bay. Kroll’s East opened in 1936, while Kroll’s West opened in 1974.
