STURGEON BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – If you’re looking for an old-fashioned night out and a blend of historically beloved cuisine while enjoying a loving and community where you’ll remember and befriend everybody, look no further than The Mill Supper Club.
Located at 4128 Wis-42 Wis-57 in Sturgeon Bay, this historic Supper Club has been serving delicious food for nearly 100 years in a casual and family-friendly environment.
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Opened in 1930 by Minor Dagneau, The Mill has passed through a few owners, but still maintains its traditional feel as a hot spot for Door County residents and visitors alike.
While the origin of its name is gone, its initial defining feature remains etched in the folklore of this iconic Supper Club. Formerly named The Mill Cocktail Lounge after its iconic decorative windmill, the Supper Club remains intact with its roots, with old traditions galore.
“The Mill is known for its family-style chicken; we do it twice a week,” owner Cory Lehman said. “I think it’s the longest running family style anything in Door County, we’ve been doing it for over 60 years now.”
It’s not just the chicken; the design and layout remain mostly the same; however, with time comes new additions and changes, with plenty of inspiration constantly providing new menu items.
“With the stone facade on the outside of the building, all the dark wood on the bar, I thought it kind of lent itself nicely to German cuisine,” Lehman said. “We have schnitzels now, a currywurst, some German sides, and German appetizers, which went over well.”
Lehman purchased The Mill in 2018, purchasing it from the previous owners who held it in their family for over 50 years. But, it’s more than just a Supper Club to him, as are the Petersilkas, whom he worked for during their more than half-century of ownership.
“They’re literally like my parents, they’re in at least once a week and help out sometimes with banquets and different things,” Lehman said. “[It was] the first job I had and the best job I ever had. They were great people, and I fell in love with the restaurant industry.”
One of the new initiatives that Lehman started was the Mug Club, which has over 130 members, and a large reason for this is due to the atmosphere created by employees and patrons alike.
One patron, Shelly Bath, compared the atmosphere to that of a bar from an iconic TV show that many will know.
“It feels like ‘Cheers,'” Bath said. “[Where] everybody knows your name, right?”
It’s likely fair to say that just about everyone in Sturgeon Bay, and maybe the Door County area, knows the name ‘The Mill Supper Club’ and its homegrown, or home-cooked, if you will, owner.
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“I was born and raised here, so coming back and having the support of everyone in the community, my family and friends, has been fantastic,” Lehman said.
Click here for more of Local 5’s ‘The Dish on Wisconsin Supper Clubs.’ Visit The Mill Supper Club’s website for more information, details and history on the iconic destination.
