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From broasted chicken to old fashioneds: Whipp’s Dining Hall celebrates 100 years in business

By Heather Graves
Editor


BROWN COUNTY – Longevity is a pretty reliable judge of an establishment’s worth to a community and to the people who call it home.

Started as a tavern-saloon in 1922, Eddie Whipp’s Dining Hall – located on the outskirts of Brown County at 5073 State Hwy 29 – holds a century-worth of memories on the walls – which hold the souvenirs of the past in pictures dating back to the 1800s – and in the hearts of those who have been a part of the family-owned business over the past 10 decades.

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Whipp’s opened its doors in 1922 in the former St. Cyril and Methodius Church building.

If the walls, bar stools and dance floor could talk, it’s likely they’d have a lot to say.

Over the years, Whipp’s has evolved and grown, as has the family behind the four-generation business – but its focus has never wavered.
“The pillars of the business – food, service and hospitality – have remained the same,” Eddie Whipp’s manager Bridget (Whipp) Peters said.

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Family affair
Growing up inside a restaurant started by her great grandfather, passed down to her grandfather and then to her parents, Peters said she knows the family-centered dining hall like the back of her hand.

“It has always been family-owned and operated since inception in 1922, currently third generation owned with fourth generation operating,” she said.

Peters said Whipp’s was founded in 1922 by Joe “Whipp” Wypizinski (her great grandfather) in what was formerly St. Cyril and Methodius Church, and at one point a horse stable.

Whipp’s was the spot farmers would stop at on their way home from the feedmill.

In 1940, Joe’s eldest son Eddie and his wife, Dorothy, took over operations and grew the business into what Whipp’s became known for – adding a Friday Fish Fry in 1947, which Dorothy prepared in her home kitchen, Sunday night family-style chicken dinners and began hosting weddings.

Peters said the dining room that is used today was added in 1980 to accommodate the increased demand.

Eddie and Dorothy had five kids that grew up working at the business, and in 1986 their son Mark and his wife Louise took over operations.

Peters said Mark and Louise still own the business today, with the next generation of Whipps, the pair’s two daughters (herself and Beckie), their nephew, Max Whipp and their son-in-law, Dominic Peters running day-to-day operations.

“When Eddie took over the business, he became the namesake and everyone started calling it Eddie Whipp’s,” Peters said. “Today, it’s known as both – Whipp’s Dining Hall and affectionately as Eddie Whipp’s, or as our family calls it, simply ‘the tavern.’”

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Eddie, the namesake of Eddie Whipp’s Dining Hall behind the bar in the 1940s. Submitted Photos

Homemade classics
Peters said two things customers can be sure of when they dine at Whipp’s are good people and good food.

She said there is no doubt Whipp’s is known for its family-style chicken, Friday Fish Fry complete with fresh-from-a-local-cheese-factory cheese curds, old fashioneds (with apple cider and cranberry flavors available in fall) and homemade cream puffs.

“So many quintessential Wisconsin supper club items, but I think what sets us apart is the care and hospitality that we provide,” Peters said. “We truly care about our customers and that they have a good experience at Whipp’s. We are also known as a great place for hosting weddings and events.”

From its first wedding reception held in the basement which was dug out by hand in 1947, to modern-day shindigs complete with cupcake bars and fairy lights, she said event hosting has definitely come a long way – with some customers who celebrated their weddings at Whipp’s returning to celebrate their anniversary parties there as well.

Peters said the building itself – which dates back to the 1800s – has also undergone changes.

“Over the years there have been many additions and remodels that have taken place,” she said. “The current dance hall was added on in the 1950s, and the current dining room was added on in 1980.”

Peters said all three rooms have received facelifts over the years.

“We are also in the process of adding on an outdoor patio and will be giving the exterior a facelift this summer as well,” she said.
Through it all, Peters said they have tried to keep in mind the historical nature of the original building, “updating things while paying homage to the past.”

“(Whipp’s) has adjusted and evolved as needed, whether that be large scale with additions or remodels or small changes to the menu to accommodate changing times and needs,” she said. “Keeping with the times but never losing sight of the reasons Whipp’s became successful in the first place.”

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Keep on keeping on
As cliche as it sounds, Peters said the future “looks similar to the last 100 years.”

“The family, and ergo the business, has always kept the core foundations – delicious food and great service at fair prices,” she said.

She said banquets and weddings are a big part of Whipp’s business, but the restaurant is just as strong/important – serving to the public on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings and reservable Saturdays for weddings and private events.

“I think the success can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of not only our family through generations, but also the hard work and dedication of the staff through the generations, as well as the huge support of our community,” Peters said.

She said this support was even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our community helped keep us going during COVID,” Peters said. “It was a scary time for everyone, but especially small business owners. During the shutdown we had customers and neighbors coming religiously for take out, even selling out.”

Since reopening, she said Whipp’s has been fortunate enough to not have the severe staffing shortages so many places have experienced.
“The pandemic is still affecting many areas of our business, but we’ve learned to adjust and change as needed,” Peters said.

She said it’s an honor to help carry on her family’s legacy.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has been a part of Whipp’s over the last 100 years,” Peters said. “Whether they’ve been a weekly customer or visited only a few times. Also to the many that have had special events (weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc) at Whipp’s, we are so thankful to be a part of those milestones. Finally, to everyone who has worked at Whipp’s over the years, thank you the most, as none of it could be done without you.”

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There is still time to take part in the Whipp’s 100-year celebration – with a $4.95 family-style chicken dinner from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and music by Copper Box from 5:30-8:30 Friday, June 3.

A polka mass set for noon Sunday, June 5; followed by another chicken dinner from 2:30-6:30 p.m. with music from The Sugarbush Boys from 2-5 p.m.

“Dziekuje, which means thank you in Polish,” Peters said.

Official commendation
County Executive Troy Streckenbach presented Eddie Whipp’s Dining Hall with an official commendation for its 100-year anniversary milestone at the County Board meeting last month.

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