City Spirits: Stella’s Part III

Continued from previous week

“Wisconsin eventually took the lead of the repeal movement when, on Dec. 6, 1932, former Governor (John) Blaine introduced the original draft of the 21st Amendment into Congress. Although Blaine is largely forgotten today, he was once widely known among drinking Americans as the ‘Father of the 21st Amendment,’” Marquette University Law Professor J. Gordon Hylton, wrote in “Wisconsin and the Repeal of Prohibition.

“Unlike other Constitutional Amendments, the terms of the 21st Amendment required that it be ratified by state constitutional conventions, rather than by the state legislatures. After the amendment was approved by both houses of Congress by the requisite 2/3 majorities, the Wisconsin legislature quickly scheduled an election of delegates to a state convention.

“Not surprisingly, every seat in the April convention was won by an advocate of repeal. On April 25, 1933, the delegates assembled and voted unanimously to support the 21st Amendment. By doing so, they made Wisconsin the second state to ratify the Amendment. Michigan had beaten Wisconsin to the punch, but only by a mere 10 days.

“Within a week, a bill legalizing alcoholic beverages had been introduced into the Wisconsin legislature in anticipation of the Amendment’s impending passage.”

Federal prohibition ended when the 18th Amendment was repealed in December 1933.

The Green Bay area was once again able to serve liquor to its patrons.

In June 1935, the city of De Pere approved 22 tavern licenses, compared to 26 the previous year.

At that time, two licenses were issued for each business — one for beer and one for intoxicating liquors — at a cost of $100.

That list included Mrs. Anna Roffers at 401 Main Avenue.

Al and Anna Roffers owned the restaurant for a few years before it began a succession of owners, including the Janssen family, who owned two bars in West De Pere in the 1950s.

“When you visit Buck’s Tavern you actually have a choice. That is, Buck Janssen, Sr. operates a tavern and restaurant at 401 Main Ave. and Buck Janssen, Jr. conducts an almost identical business at 401 Reid St., both in West De Pere,” a September 1959 Press-Gazette article stated.

“Buck Jr., by the way, represents the third generation Janssen in the tavern business covering a span of roughly 75 years.”

Some of the other names the location was known by are Kieffer’s, Days Bar & Restaurant, Eastman’s Eatery & Pub, Laundry Lounge, McCarthy’s Irish Pub, West End Pub, Knights on Main and S.A.L.T.

The location became Stella’s Italian Kitchen in 2017, after unveiling a new menu and décor.

Shawn Zambarda bought the location in October 2018 and changed the name to just Stella’s, as it is known today.