Kewpee in Racine might be the creepiest restaurant I've been to. The burgers are good but there's much I find disturbing and unsettling about the place.

I hope I don't have nightmares tonight about unwrapping my burger.



And what the hell is "Waste Meat" doing on my bill?



At least they didn't charge me for it.

René,
I wonder what looked or sounded so creepy and disturbing at my favorite eatery in Racine (the other being Wells Brothers, where I should say I did not visit for several years)?
Was it the sight of that strange-looking Kewpee doll all over the place and printed on the burger wrapper?
I have to admit that the first time my very young grandson went there for lunch he got scared by the doll...
And I have also to say that that line on your check mentioning waste meat is a bit cryptic and disturbing.
But I can assure you that their beef is ground fresh every day... No recycled waste meat would arrive, even by mistake, on your plate. No Sir.
My wife being born and raised there, Racine was the first American city I discovered when I flew there for the first time (via Milwaukee and NY airports) from Paris in 1968. And 2 double hamburgers ''with everything'' and a large order of those always perfect curly fries, was in fact my first meal out in the U.S. And it was also my first experience ever eating at a lunch counter. I loved that first all-American meal and I have returned hundreds of times to the Kewpee.
The last time was in December 2009 when my wife and I had one of those sudden craving for a Kewpee, a walk along the lake which looks so different than in Chicago, and an urgent need to see one of those so original special expositions that the marvelous local Art Museum downtown Racine organizes regularly.
The eerie lack of traffic and the quasi absence of shoppers downtown was the only creepy phenomenon that we could observe.
The Kewpee burgers, their buns, and the fries,even the ketchup, were as good as ever, and, according to my wife who likes that strange beverage, the root beer was as flavorful as in the fifties. The old local regulars at the counter were their usual folksy cheerful, and the smiling young waitresses as efficient as always.

alain40 wrote:I wonder what looked or sounded so creepy and disturbing at my favorite eatery in Racine (the other being Wells Brothers, where I should say I did not visit for several years)?
Was it the sight of that strange-looking Kewpee doll all over the place and printed on the burger wrapper?

I guess I should have phrased that a little differently. I'm actually a big fan of Kewpee Hamburgers but I find the atmosphere a little odd and unsettling. Most of my reaction is because of the doll. Even as a small child I found that weird little alien to be somewhat frightening. I'm over that now but still don't feel entirely comfortable being surrounded by so many of the things. Kewpies are everywhere. The place certainly has character though.

While waiting for my burger I had time to carefully take in my surroundings. The crowded restaurant, with its counter full of very large people squatting on tiny stools, was almost soundless—a bit eerie. I remember thinking if David Lynch needs a restaurant setting for a future film, he couldn't do better than Kewpee. Then they handed me my receipt. I wasn't really worried about the "waste meat" but I was completely mystified and found it funny though definitely odd.

For an inexpensive burger Kewpee is tough to beat; I can't think of anywhere to get a comparable burger for $1.50.





I even enjoy Kewpee's chili, though I prefer to think of it as tomato and ground beef soup.

Next time I'm in Racine, I'm almost certain to revisit Kewpee. By the way, immediately before Kewpee, we stopped at Wells Brothers, your other Racine favorite. Probably the best tavern-style pizza I've had. Great place.

René,

Thanks for your interesting comment focusing on your very personal perception of that place. My Racine-born wife, who grew up on Kewpees and is still is very attached to that iconic Racine spot was very relieved to learn that in fact you liked their burgers, and Wells Brothers pizza too

Rene G wrote:Kewpee in Racine might be the creepiest restaurant I've been to. The burgers are good but there's much I find disturbing and unsettling about the place.

I'm going with Rene on this, good burgers, ok fries, creepshow vibe.

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Plus, the interaction between the grill man and waitresses reminded me of the Hooter's Undercover Boss episode I just watched. (watched part of, anyway)

this place was creepy & i was to full to get a kringle.
it was the last stop on the trip

I think as much as I love eating in Wisconsin, it's creepy in general. My daughters were horrified by the sight of smiling dolls in European costumes nailed to the walls in the former Little Europe restaurant on 294. They refused to go back after our one visit there.

Suzy

How funny, I adore Kewpies because they make a totally decent greasy 30's style burger which they wrap in wax paper with the most amazing retro-graphics printed on it. Last time I was there I sweet talked the bored 17 year-old cashier into slipping me a few sheets of un-greasy, un-used Kewpie Doll wax paper. My older sister, who had a decent porcelain Kewpie Doll collection until she grew fond of boys and John Lennon, was freaky thrilled when I wrapped some local Chicago foodstuffs in the Kewpie wax paper for her Christmas present.

Besides, it is simply too brightly lit and shiny tiled (and full of families) to be put in the creepy file.

I think there might have been some hyperbole or even sarcasm up-thread but I don't want future readers to be scared off by Kewpie . . . it's a great little burger joint and the prices are crazy good. I recommend skipping the blah fries and enjoying good old salty, crispy chips with the burger. And if the relatively small wall of dolls scares you, sit at a booth looking the other way. Or channel the part in you that has a better sense of humor. Or get them to go, drive to the lake, and eat them in your car.

bjt

I've been a patron of Kewpee's for over 30 years. The original Kewpee's was a tiny establishment, featuring a small counter and a few tables, located inside a City of Racine parking garage. Once the garage was torn down, the new, free standing restaurant included: two large, semi-circular counters, some large tables on the north wall, facing the parking lot, and some smaller tables on the east wall, against a display case with Kewpie dolls. I never sit at the east tables, while dining. I'm a counter guy. I highly recommend to those who are freaked out by the Kewpie dolls, to enjoy your cheeseburgers and home made root beer at one of counters or a table on the north wall. Part of the Kewpee experience is sitting at the counter and watching them grill and dress those 2.5oz, fresh, hand-pattied beauties. In July, smoking will be banned from Wisconsin restaurants and Kewpee's will be smoke free. Happy happy, joy, joy!

sdritz wrote:I think as much as I love eating in Wisconsin, it's creepy in general. My daughters were horrified by the sight of smiling dolls in European costumes nailed to the walls in the former Little Europe restaurant on 294. They refused to go back after our one visit there.

Suzy

You want creepy Wisconsin? Visit The House on the Rock. The elaborate pipe organs and merry-go-rounds with their creepy doll riders will give you indefinite nightmares. That place gives me "the Willies."

While preparing a post on Lima, Ohio I read a bit about Kewpee history, beyond the Wikipedia entry and the Racine Kewpee website.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:Based on age and appearance, it's my guess that the downtown Lima location is the original Kewpie. All others sprouted from there.

Kewpee, 111 N Elizabeth St, Lima OH


The Kewpee in downtown Lima is a 1939 replacement for the original 1928 store that stood in the same spot. But Kewpee didn't start in Lima.

stevez wrote:According to the "History of the Kewpee", The company started in the 20's in Lima, OH

The first Kewpee Hotel (that's the original name of the hamburger shops) was opened in the early 1920s by Sam Blair in Flint, Michigan. In 1926 he sold the name to Ed Adams of Toledo who opened stores in various states and oversaw many loose franchise agreements. The first Kewpee in Lima was opened in 1928 by Stub and June Wilson (but the company wasn't based in Lima until decades later). Much of that information comes from a 1993 article by Harrison Shutt, the owner of Kewpee (in The Allen County Reporter [Vol 49, No 1, pp 15-39], a publication of the Allen County Historical Society in Lima, Ohio).

Kewpee and White Castle were two of the early businesses that made the hamburger respectable and laid the foundation for modern fast food. Though they're somewhat ignored today, it's difficult to overestimate their importance in shaping how America (and the world) now eats.

Rene G wrote:The Kewpee in downtown Lima is a 1939 replacement for the original 1928 store that stood in the same spot. But Kewpee didn't start in Lima.

stevez wrote:According to the "History of the Kewpee", The company started in the 20's in Lima, OH

The first Kewpee Hotel (that's the original name of the hamburger shops) was opened in the early 1920s by Sam Blair in Flint, Michigan.

I guess if you buy the company, you get to (re)write your own history. The Chow Poodle and her cousins will be glad to hear that Kewpee got its start in Michigan. That's where they grew up eating them.

Kewpee, 111 N Elizabeth St, Lima OH


The Kewpee in downtown Lima is a 1939 replacement for the original 1928 store that stood in the same spot. But Kewpee didn't start in Lima.

This Kewpee location has a very tiny parking lot and a drive through window. It once had a car turntable to turn cars around to leave the parking lot.

I would have loved to have taken a spin on that turntable.

Regards,

G Wiv wrote:I'm going with Rene on this, good burgers, ok fries, creepshow vibe.

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Creepy? Nah, I have no idea what you're talking about anymore. All those dolls in the Kewpie cabinet are cute as a button.



Cheeseburgers have crept up to $1.90, still one of the best burger deals anywhere.



Kewpee Lunch
520 Wisconsin Av
Racine WI
262-634-9601
http://www.kewpee.com/