Who Owns Zehnder's And Bavarian Inn?

Zehnder's and Bavarian Inn are two famous restaurants in Frankenmuth, Michigan, known for their all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners. While the two restaurants are often compared and contrasted, with some even speculating that they share a kitchen, they are, in fact, owned by different families. Zehnder's is currently owned by the Edwin Zehnder family, while the Bavarian Inn is owned by the William Zehnder family. The two restaurants have a shared history, as the original Zehnder's restaurant was founded by William and Emilie Zehnder in 1928, and the Bavarian Inn was established after the Zehnder family purchased Fischer's Hotel in 1950.

Edwin Zehnder's family owns Zehnder's

Edwin Zehnder's family does indeed own Zehnder's. In 1927, William Zehnder Sr. purchased and remodelled the Exchange Hotel in Frankenmuth, Michigan, originally built by Henry Reichle in 1856. In 1947, the business was passed on to his children. In the 1950s, the Zehnders bought Fischer's Hotel across the street, renaming it the Bavarian Inn in 1959. In 1955, Edwin Zehnder and his brother, William Jr., bought the interests of Zehnder's, Inc. from their siblings.

Edwin Zehnder and his brother redecorated the restaurant in a Bavarian theme, inspired by their travels. The Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival also began during their week-long grand re-opening celebration. The restaurant has become famous for its all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners, seafood, steaks, fresh baked goods, and European desserts, serving almost a million people every year.

The Bavarian Inn, meanwhile, has been managed by William "Tiny" Zehnder Jr.'s family. "Tiny" and his wife, Dorothy, a former waitress at Fischer's, transformed the restaurant into what it is today, instilling an authentic German flavour in the building, entertainment, costumes, and food. The couple worked side-by-side to develop the business, with Dorothy working in the kitchen and "Tiny" focusing on other areas.

The William "Tiny" and Dorothy Zehnder Family are currently in their fourth generation of management. Dorothy's son, William A. (Bill) Zehnder, is the Chairman of the Board, and her grandson, Michael Zehnder, is the President of the Lodge.

William Zehnder's family owns Bavarian Inn

The William Zehnder family owns the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, Michigan. William "Tiny" Zehnder Jr. and his wife, Dorothy, managed the Bavarian Inn, which they started with a huge debt. They built the business over 30 years, adding an authentic German flavour to the building, entertainment, costumes, and food.

William and Dorothy's son, William A. (Bill) Zehnder, is the Chairman of the Board, and his eldest daughter, Amy Zehnder Grossi, is the President of the restaurant. Bill's other daughter, Katie Zehnder Weiss, is the President of Frankenmuth Gift Shops Inc. William and Dorothy's daughter, Judy Zehnder Keller, founded the Bavarian Inn Lodge, and her son, Michael Zehnder, is now the President, with his sister, Martha Zehnder Kaczynski, as Vice President. Judy's husband, Don Keller, is the Corporate Treasurer.

The Bavarian Inn was originally founded as the Union House Hotel in 1888 by Theodore Fischer and was renamed Fischer's Hotel. The Fischer family continued the business for the next two generations, and in 1941, it was passed to Theodore's grandson, Elmer. In 1950, the Zehnder family purchased the hotel from Elmer, and William "Tiny" Zehnder Jr. was named manager.

The Bavarian Inn has been remodelled and expanded almost non-stop since the 1950s, adding an authentic Bavarian exterior and German entrees served by "Bavarian" costumed servers. The annual Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival began during a week-long grand re-opening celebration in 1959.

Both restaurants are in Frankenmuth, Michigan

Zehnder's and Bavarian Inn are two famous restaurants in Frankenmuth, Michigan. They are located across the street from each other, with Zehnder's having been built on the site of the Exchange Hotel, which was constructed in 1856, just eleven years after Frankenmuth was founded in 1845. The Bavarian Inn was founded as the Union House Hotel in 1888 by Theodore Fischer and was later renamed Fischer's Hotel.

The two restaurants have a shared history, with the Zehnder family purchasing Fischer's Hotel in 1950 and renaming it the Bavarian Inn in 1959. The original Zehnder's restaurant was owned and operated by William and Emilie (Bickel) Zehnder, Sr., who bought the Exchange Hotel in 1928. The couple turned the business over to their children in 1947. In the 1950s, the Zehnders bought Fischer's Hotel, which was located across the street, and put their son, William Jr., also known as "Tiny," in charge.

Tiny and his wife, Dorothy, a former waitress at Fischer's, became the managers of the Bavarian Inn and worked to modernise the kitchen, install dishwashing equipment, build a laundry, and improve the building design. They also added an authentic Bavarian exterior with stucco walls, woodcarving, flower boxes, and other German accents, transforming the restaurant into what it is today.

Both restaurants are known for their all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners, but they offer different experiences. Zehnder's is early American-style, while the Bavarian Inn is German-themed, featuring German meals and costumes. Zehnder's can seat up to 1,500 people and serves almost a million people annually. The Bavarian Inn has 12 dining rooms that can accommodate up to 1,200 guests.

The Bavarian Inn has a Glockenspiel

The Bavarian Inn Glockenspiel Tower is a 50-foot bell tower that houses a 35-bell carillon, a figurine movement, and an illuminated clock, all imported from Germany. The Glockenspiel was added in 1967 and has been an iconic part of the Inn ever since. The tower was constructed in the traditional Bavarian style, with stucco walls and a roof covered in concrete roof tiles. The carillon uses a special double keyboard, giving the sound of 70 bells, cast by Eijsbouts Bellfounders of Asten, Holland. The Glockenspiel plays several tunes throughout the day, including at noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m., and its figures depict the legend of the Pied Piper of Hameln.

The story of the Pied Piper of Hameln is a famous German folklore tale that dates back to the 13th century. It tells of a plague of rats in the German town of Hameln, where a stranger dressed in brightly coloured clothes offers to rid the town of the rats for a small fee. The mayor agrees, and the piper plays a magical melody on his flute, charming the rats into following him into the River Weser, where they drown. However, when the piper returns to collect his payment, the mayor refuses to pay the promised fee. In retaliation, the piper plays another melody that entices the town's children to follow him out of the city, never to be seen again.

The Glockenspiel at the Bavarian Inn brings this story to life with 4-foot-tall wooden figurines, painted in the distinctive costumes of the 13th century. The figurines move on tracks, acting out the story of the Pied Piper, the townspeople, and the horde of rats. The performance is accompanied by the Glockenspiel's musical bells, playing a variety of German and American tunes and hymns. The Glockenspiel is a beloved attraction, offering a unique and enchanting experience for both adults and children visiting the Bavarian Inn.

The Glockenspiel is not just a beautiful and intricate part of the Bavarian Inn, but it also holds a special significance in the history of Frankenmuth. The town, founded by German Lutheran emigrants in 1845, embraces its German heritage and culture. The Glockenspiel, with its German architectural style and folklore story, embodies the essence of Frankenmuth. It stands as a testament to the town's rich history and the influence of German traditions, contributing to its unique character and charm.

The restaurants have similar food

The restaurants Zehnder and Bavarian Inn have similar food. Both restaurants are located in Frankenmuth, Michigan, and are known for their famous all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners. Zehnder's restaurant has seating for 1,500 people and features dishes such as seafood, steaks, fresh baked goods, and European desserts in addition to its signature chicken dinners. Bavarian Inn, on the other hand, offers a more diverse menu with German specialities such as Schnitzel and Sauerbraten, in addition to its famous chicken. They also offer gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Zehnder's sources locally grown, quality ingredients, and their chicken dinners include generous servings of mashed potatoes, egg noodles, and vegetables. Similarly, Bavarian Inn's family-style chicken dinners are accompanied by a variety of sides, including mashed potatoes, gravy, baked dressing, vegetable du jour, sauerkraut, buttered noodles, and housemade ice cream.

Both restaurants have a long history in Frankenmuth. Zehnder's was originally built as the Exchange Hotel in 1856 and was purchased by the Zehnder family in 1927. The Bavarian Inn, on the other hand, was established in 1950 when the Zehnder family purchased Fischer's Hotel.

The two restaurants have become well-known destinations in Frankenmuth, with Zehnder's serving almost a million people annually and Bavarian Inn hosting more than 20 million guests since its opening. They have both received recognition for their culinary achievements, with Zehnder's winning the 2020 James Beard America's Classics Award and John Zehnder, the executive chef at Zehnder's, receiving the 2011 Hermann G. Rusch Chef's Achievement Award.

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