website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Mullen’s Dairy Bar & Eatery
Founded 1932
212 W Main
1843 MULLEN FAMILY DATES BACK TO 1843
Widow Mrs. Mary Mullen and seven
sons immigrated from Ireland and settled on the present F. R. Mullen farm (now
operated by Robert Wilke family). The
land was purchased from the Government.
This same farm has remained in the possession
of the Mullen's through four generations (111 years).
1911
11 16 THE MULLEN DAIRY
Frank R. Mullen
Sr. has opened a dairy and milk route in
connection with his other farm interests southwest of this city. He is now supplying butter, milk and cream
daily to a large number of customers in Watertown, and
all say Frank’s butter, milk and cream are the very best to be had. WG
1918
08 30 ANDREW MULLEN, 206 First Street
12 04 DAIRY AT 216 WEST MAIN STREET
The Mullen dairy opened a branch
station for the sale of milk and cream at 216 West Main Street today for the
accommodation of west side patrons.
1932 MULLEN’S DAIRY BAR FOUNDED
In 1932 (depression years) Frank
R. Mullen and sons, seeking a better market for the milk produced on the Mullen
farm, started the Mullen Dairy which has progressed
and is now Watertown's only Grade A milk bottler.
Started in 1932 by Frank R.
Mullen (4th generation) and two sons, Frank R. Jr. and Weber Mullen. Joined in 1934 by third son Gerald. A fourth son, Bernard is affiliated with Guardian
Life Insurance Company. (Fifth generation).
By 1954 the fifth generation of Mullen’s operated Watertown's favorite
ice cream bar and dairy processing plant.
I was told they operated in the building that was formerly in the alley to the west at
214 before moving into 212 . . . Adam Keepman
1945
08 16 DAIRY TALES / DICKY & DAISY
1950
1951 HOME DELIVERY
1954 IF IT’S MILK . . . IT’S MULLEN’S
City Centennial ad
c.1960
c1970
VANISHED
There was a time when the city
had any number of ice cream parlors and among those were the A. E. Baumann ice
cream parlor and candy kitchen which was located at 210 West Main Street, E.
Herro and Son at 210 Main Street, William Pappas at 407 Main Street, George
Spyros at 105 Main Street, Miss Abbie Norton at 614 West Main Street and Mrs. Marie Vick at 107 West Main Street. And of course, there was the Edward M.
O’Byrne establishment, also in
The old ice cream parlor was a
vital community institution. It afforded
a pleasant and relaxing place to meet friends, enjoy ice cream and good
homemade candies and it’s too bad that it is now just another part of a
vanished era.
Cross References: O’Byrne/Spyros Ice Cream:
10
28 1915 / O’Byrne Candy and Ice Cream: Edward M. O’Byrne
has disposed of his retail candy and ice cream business at 104 [105?] Main
Street to Spyros Bros., who also conduct a similar business at Wausau,
Wis. Mr. O’Bryne has very successfully
conducted this business for the past five years and for a year
past has also conducted a wholesale business on Second Street, which he
will continue and enlarge the same. This
brand of business has assumed large proportions and he
will devote his entire time to it in the future. Spyros Bros. have already taken possession of
the retail business and are making several fine improvements in
it. They come to our city well recommended and our people wish them success. WG
01 04 1918 / Pappas Ice Cream Parlor. LEASES BUILDING. William Pappas Will Conduct Two Stores After
February 1. William Pappas, enterprising young merchant located at Fifth and Main
streets (417 E Main), recently leased the Brunner building at 407 Main Street
and will install an up to date ice cream parlor. Previous to leasing,
“Bill,” as he is familiarly called, was pressed for room in the old
location. He will continue in his
present stand as the corner is one of the busiest spots in town and attracts
many patrons. The (407) building was
occupied previous to Mr. Pappas leasing
it, by the late Jacob Brunner, who conducted a tailoring establishment there
for fifty years.
c1970
1976
WILLIAM
“BILL” MULLEN
Mullen’s Dairy was started by the
grandfather of William Mullen. At that
time milk was delivered house to house by horse and
buggy, with deliveries starting at 4 a.m. daily.
Over the years there have been at
least 14 dairies operating in Watertown, and Mullen’s is the last one to
survive.
The local dairy receives all of its milk for processing from six area farmers. Milk is processed three days a week and the
firm also makes its own ice cream. Mullen’s is one of only a few dairies in the
state that still uses glass bottles in distributing the product.
Mullen purchased the dairy
earlier this year from his two uncles, Jerry and Frank. His father, the late Weber Mullen, had also
been a partner in the business until his death.
A 1961 graduate of Watertown High
School, Mullen attended Arizona State University on a basketball
scholarship. He said he did not like big
time college basketball and as a result at the end of the first semester he
transferred to Carroll College in Waukesha where he lettered
in basketball and track and received his bachelors
degree in 1965.
Following graduation from Carroll
he was employed by Employers Mutual of Wausau as an insurance
investigator. After three years working
for Employers in the Chicago area, he accepted a position with Dura Containers,
Inc., which deals in corrugated packaging.
He remained with Dura for eight years, living in Mount Vernon, IL.,
before returning to Watertown this year to operate the business.
Mullen is married to the former
Karla Johnson of Watertown. They reside
at 208 South Washington Street with their three children, Tiffany 9, Bill, Jr.
8, and Andrew 3. WDT
1977
1980
10 25 MULLEN’S DAIRY TERMINATES HOME
DELIVERY
So many things aren’t
like they used to be. Delivery of milk
in Watertown won’t be like it used to be after the end of October. Mullen’s Dairy will terminate home delivery,
a business it has pursued since 1932.
Gone are the days of everyone having milk boxes, of cream rising to the
top of the returnable milk bottles and on winter days of an icy column pushing
the cap off the bottle as it expands.
Oct. 31 will also mark the retirement of Howard Herold, a man everyone knows as Pinky. He’s the last one to drive a delivery truck.
The firm will still
manufacture its own ice cream and is a distributor for Golden Guernsey dairy
products. Milk products will still be
sold through the store and Mullen’s plans to continue to deliver wholesale
dairy products. WDT
Cross Reference: Howard Herold (1923-2014).
Died Dec. 23, 2014. Herold was a
1942 graduate of Watertown High School. Howard
was a veteran of World War II, having entered the Army Air Force in February 1943. He served as a
ball turret gunner on B-24s until July 1945 when he was honorably discharged
after flying 50 missions. He attained the rank of staff sergeant. Howard was
awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the
Presidential Unit Citation, the Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and
the European Theater Medal with five battle stars. Upon his discharge he became an employee of Mullen’s
Dairy and worked there for 35 years. He was the last door-to-door milk delivery
man for Mullen’s. Hafemeister Funeral
Home and Cremation Service 611 E. Main St. Watertown.
1984
08 29 SUSAN TESCH, STORE
MANAGER
Mrs. Susan Tesch has
been named store manager of
Mullen's Dairy, 212 West Main Street, Watertown. She has been employed at the dairy since
1977. Operating since 1932, Mullen's
Dairy offers a complete menu of ice cream treats, along with soups, sandwiches
and salads. The dairy carries a full
line of Golden Guernsey dairy products and features their own homemade premium
ice cream. The store is open seven days
a week. WDT
2001
01 26 Mullen's Dairy Bar & Eatery Lake Mills will open at 134 E.
Lake St. across from Commons Park in April, according to Ron and Gloria Luepke,
owners of Mullen's Dairy Bar and Eatery in Watertown. Mullen's Dairy Bar and Eatery in Watertown
will supply ice cream to the Lake Mills business, which will be operated by
other owners. The names of the new
owners of the Lake Mills business have not been announced. The Luepkes own the building where the
business will be located. WDT
04 05 Mullen’s Dairy Bar and Eatery has opened at 134 E. Lake St.,
Lake Mills, across from Commons Park. A
grand opening celebration is being planned for
May. Owner Dean Daubert presides over an
authentic soda fountain with shiny fountain heads that people remember from a
bygone era. A large rear mirror evokes
visions of Richie, Fonzie and his pals of the 1960s. The black-and-white squares of the flooring,
ceiling fans, and red-and-white checkered tablecloths bring back memories of
old-fashioned ice cream parlors and the simple pleasures of yesterday. WDT
10 04 About 15 former employees of Mullen’s Dairy, with their
spouses, gathered Sunday afternoon for their first reunion, with the farthest
participant coming from Wautoma. The
idea for a reunion came after some past employees began getting together on
their own and someone suggested the mini-reunion
expand. The group met at Windwood
Country Club for brunch with Gerry Mullen welcoming the guests, Bill Mullen
discussing his part in the family business and present owners, Ron and Gloria
Luepke, explaining their maintenance of the product line. “Everyone had a good time reminiscing,” said
event coordinator and past employee Earl Lehmann. “It really was better than I thought it would
be. It really turned out very well.” WDT
2006
08 09 NEW OWNERS
A Watertown business
that has served the community for 74 years has new owners. Mullen’s Dairy Bar owners Ron and Gloria
Luepke have sold the restaurant to Watertown residents Troy and Shannon
Milbrath. Troy Milbrath, who worked at
Mullen’s while he attended high school, told the Daily Times that the purchase of the business has been a dream come
true. Ron and Gloria Luepke owned
Mullen’s since 1997, when they purchased it from former owners Bill Mullen and
his wife, Karla. Bill and Karla Mullen
became the sole owners of the then family business in 1976. The restaurant was started by Frank Mullen
and his two sons, Frank Jr. and Web, in 1932.
Full
WDTimes article
2007
10 25 75th ANNIVERSARY
Mullen’s Dairy and
Eatery is celebrating its 75th anniversary by creating a special book featuring
memories from customers over the years.
Residents are asked to submit a favorite memory to Mullen’s, 211 W. Main
St., Watertown, by Dec. 31. The
restaurant opened in 1932 by Frank Mullen and his two sons, Frank Jr. and
Web. Bill Mullen and his wife, Karla,
became the sole owners of the family business in 1976. In 1997 Ron and Gloria Luepke purchased the
business and then sold it in 2006 to current owners Troy and Shannon Milbrath.
2010
10 04 CHAMBER CLIP
2012 MULLEN’S DAIRY EXPANDS
ICE CREAM LINE
Premium Ice Cream Available at Area Grocery Stores.
[online press release dated Dec.
1, 2012] - Mullen’s Dairy and Eatery will begin selling its premium quality ice
cream under the name, Bucky Badger Ice Cream.
The ice cream will be available at Piggly Wiggly and Breselow’s Family
Market in Watertown starting December 1, 2012 with plans to expand into larger
markets in 2013.
Bucky Badger Ice Cream will be
available in five of its signature flavors: Blue Moon, Vanilla, Chocolate, Mint
and Strawberry. It will be distributed
via Emil’s Pizza Distribution.
“In this ever
changing economic climate we realized the need to expand our business
beyond bricks and mortar while not changing anything in the dairy,” said
Mullen’s Dairy and Eatery Owner, Troy Milbrath.
“We have 80 years of history manufacturing and selling ice cream and are
excited to offer our homemade ice cream via distribution through a brand that
is not only known locally, but statewide and beyond.” Mullen’s has signed an exclusive licensing
agreement with L&L Foods, Inc. to manufacture ice cream under the name,
Bucky Badger Ice Cream.
Mullen’s has been making
homemade premium ice cream since 1932. As one of the top 50 Ice Cream
destinations in the United States, Mullen’s still makes its ice cream using the
same recipe that has tickled the tongues of generations of customers. The dairy
is listed as the “Cream of the Crop” in the Sundae Hall of Fame.
2015
09 22 STAINED GLASS PANEL
UNCOVERED
Discovered behind large fan above front
door.
2016
March MULLEN'S REMODELED
Aly Lou Photography
After being closed for
remodeling, Mullen's is open once again, with a slightly different antique
style look. So many memories made here over the years.
09 09 ”MULLEN'S IS MOVING” AFTER 84 YEARS
Page one ad, Watertown Daily Times
10 02 FEUD CLOSES MULLEN'S
DAIRY BAR; NEW LOCATION SOUGHT
Wisconsin
State Journal article, Oct 2, 2016.
10 08 MULLEN'S OWNER CHARGED
WITH IDENTITY THEFT, CREDIT CARD FRAUD AND FORGERY
Wisconsin
State Journal article, Oct 8, 2016.
10 13 MULLEN'S DAIRY BAR
& EATERY ONLINE AUCTION
“The majority of
manufacturing equipment currently installed at Mullen’s Dairy, a Watertown, WI
icon for more than 70 years, along with select memorabilia sells at online
bidding only event. This is your only
chance to get your hands on some one-of-a-kind items of Watertown
history.” WDT pg 1 ad
12 13 NEW OWNERS OF MULLEN'S
Brothers Josh, Adam and Matt Keepman.
Ron and Gloria Luepke announced that Kandyman Can, LLC has agreed
to purchase the company and all of its assets. Josh, Matt and Adam Keepman, brothers with
roots in the Watertown community, make up Kandyman Can's principal ownership
team.
Grandfather Erv
Keepman Jr. grew up on Second Street in Watertown. As a young boy, he had a paper route and
would come to Mullen's after collecting to enjoy an extra thick chocolate malt
with a raw egg on top.
Josh Keepman said he
and his brothers look to restore Mullen's to its
former glory; to do this, the trio have launched an online Kickstarter
campaign.
Matt Keepman is no stranger to frozen fare.
He owns Savoy Sorbet, a company based out of Irving, Texas. After his product
was picked up by Wisconsin grocery store Sendick's, he decided to move
production within the state. The Keepman's plan to sell Savoy Sorbet alongside Mullen's
traditional ice cream treats. [ Full
article ]
2017
01 10 “MAKE MULLEN'S GREAT
AGAIN” / Mullen's
Dairy Bar Kickstarter
01 27 MULLEN'S MEMORIES WILL
RETURN
04 24 SIGNAGE PAINTED
WDTimes photo
05 01 MULLEN’S DAIRY BAR REOPENS
-- -- 1993 REFRIGERATED
TRUCK FOR SALE
01 27 AN 87-YEAR-OLD ‘FROZEN’ TRADITION:
Free cones at Mullen’s Dairy Bar when
it’s -20 or below
"Mullen's Winter
Tradition" since 1932
It’s a winter tradition at Mullen’s Dairy Bar, since 1932! When the temperature drops to -20 degrees or
colder, single dip ice cream cones are free!
Guests on Saturday, Jan. 26 were able to come in
out of the cold for a free frozen treat.
It’s a tradition started by Frank Mullen and his sons soon after they
opened Mullen’s Dairy Bar in 1932.
According to Adam Keepman, Managing Partner/Chef at Mullen’s Dairy Bar,
“We are excited about today. This is the first time we’ve seen this temperature
since my brothers and I took over operations in 2016, so I’m not sure when the
last time Watertown saw -20 degrees.” Keepman joked,
“Rumor has it that the Mullen’s brothers would make customers eat their free
ice cream cones outside. We don’t plan
on continuing that part of the tradition.”
Mullen’s Dairy Bar is the last surviving dairy
in Watertown, Wisconsin — a city that once boasted 14 dairies operating within
its boundaries. Known for their homemade
premium ice cream (12 percent butterfat) made onsite at their Watertown
facility, Mullen’s Dairy Bar ice cream is now available at select scoop shops
and retailers throughout southeastern Wisconsin area. Mullen’s Dairy Bar is located at 212 W. Main
Street in Watertown, WI and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
06 21 FOX-MILWAUKEE VISITS DAIRY BAR DURING DAIRY MONTH
2020
02 16 MULLEN’S
DAIRY BAR NAME SECURED – EXPANSION AND GROWTH PLANNED:
A court case over ownership of the company name has been decided
after more than three years of litigation and now the owners have plans to
double production and take the brand into stores and shops around the country.
Plans include finding a distributor. The Keepmans currently deliver their ice
cream to more than 40 locations between Madison and Milwaukee using a 2008
Mercedes sprinter van purchased from Kraemer Wisconsin Cheese, another longtime
Watertown business that was founded in the 1920s. The Keepmans want to add cafe seating on the
sidewalk in front of their shop and an outdoor deck in the parking lot. The moves come as a $10 million expansion of
the Watertown Public Library is planned across the street and just to the east,
buildings on the south side of West Main Street in the 100 block are being
removed to make way for a public plaza that will include a splash pad, seating,
a kayak launch and improved access to the Rock River.
07 07 NEW OUTDOOR SEATING
07 07 MULLEN’S ADDING NEW LOCATION IN OCONOMOWOC
Mullen’s makes all their ice cream in Watertown and that will continue
07 04 MICHAEL "MIKE" MULLEN <> 1939-2022
OBITUARY: Mike worked at family-owned Mullen's Dairy in Watertown throughout his
youth. Mike graduated from Watertown
High School in 1957. Some highlights
from his Watertown High School days were . . . . .
2024
06 07 MULLEN'S DELAFIELD LOCATION OPENS
Mullen’s Dairy Bar on the opening of their 3rd
location today inside The Smiley Barn in Delafield. They make all their ice cream at the Watertown Mullen's Dairy Bar location. Adam, Matt & Josh Keepman. Link
to posting
__________________________________________
Cross-References:
2000, Profile of, WDTimes, 06
14 2000
2021, Discover article
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin