Name: Chili John's Restaurant
Address: 519 S. Military Ave, Green Bay, WI, 54303
Telephone: 920-494-4624

"Chili John's" restaurant became more popular as time went on. Selling his specialty..."chili", to people who were brought up thinking "chili" meant CHILLY took persistance, passion for his craft and pride in his business. Many times people would ask "...why do it that way: you're too independent". He would answer, "Wouldn't you like to be this way too!" John would work nights, late, many of them alone. He would take customer orders, make and serve them their food. John also cleaned up after them. At this time he would serve plate crackers, 4"x 4" saltines. To put them into your bowl of chili you'd break or crush them, making a mess. To make life easier, John talked to a particular customer about making crackers that fit on a teaspoon. That customer was a salesman from Nabisco Foods, the product became a type of cracker many take for granted today...the Dainty Oyster cracker. As his restaurant's popularity, grew John moved to larger and larger quarters. Chili John's Restaurant occupied 3 successive locations on Main St. His restaurant, in the 300 block of Main St., boasting the largest counter in town. He'd make his famous chili once every two weeks. He's been remembered as saying,"...just think if we could make chili once a week...!' John's chili has survived two world wars, one world wide depression, the cold war (and how many presidents?)...John Issac died in 1947, just before his restaurant moved to 224 Pine St.; between Washington and Adams Streets. He was survived by his wife, one son and six daughters.

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