Kaap's Old World Chocolates History

In 1907, Otto Kaap made his first batch of chocolates in his store on bustling Main Street, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At first, Otto struggled to make his new business a success, working as a bank teller and a percussionist in a Vaudeville orchestra, while perfecting his chocolates. He would come in late night to make his chocolates so they would be fresh when he opened his doors in the morning. Made in small batches, he used only the freshest ingredients - select pure whipping cream, sweet creamy butter, pure vanilla and cane sugar - and soon Kaap's Old World Chocolates became a Green Bay landmark for its European style, old-world atmosphere and wonderful chocolates.

We're proud to carry on Otto's tradition of perfection and freshness today. Our unique blend of chocolates "Otto's own recipe" makes our confections taste like no other. You have our personal guarantee!

Looking Back: Kaap's Restaurant

Photo Caption: "Interior of Kaap's Restaurant, February 5, 1964. Kaap's Restaurant began as an accident, rather than Otto Kaap's desire to run a candy shop. In 1909 Kaap worked as a teller in the Bank of Green Bay while playing drums in the Bijou and Orpheum Theater Orchestras in the evenings. In an effort to attract a trumpet player from Oshkosh to the Orpheum Orchestra, Kaap invested his savings into relocating the man to Green Bay and assisting him in opening a candy shop. Within a short time, the man's business failed and Kaap took over the shop in an effort to save his investment, despite having no candy-making experience of his own. The shop was first located at 125 Main Street where Kaap spent nights after performances making candy for the following day. After about a year, Kaap moved the business to 211 Pine Street to save $5.00 a month on rent. At this location he expanded the business with a small ice cream parlor. In 1914 he moved the business to Washington Street, where he was able to add sandwiches to the menu and begin a Tea Room. These expansions required more space, for which Kaap provided by purchasing the Slip Allen Saloon next door, and later, Grunert Jewelry. By 1964 the candy shop, bakery and restaurant occupied two stories and had a staff of more than 100 people. The store finally closed when the Greater Green Bay Urban Renewal Project decided to raze Kaap's Restaurant, along with other downtown businesses, to make room for the Boston Store in the late 1970s. The Press-Gazette Collection of the Neville Public Museum of Brown County, # PG - Kaap's Restaurant, February 5, 1964. " - Excerpt and photo from the Neville Public Museum's Snapshots in Time Webpage

Photo Caption: "Shopping in the Rain. People walk through the rain at the corner of Cherry and Washington Streets, November 6, 1941. Washington and Cherry Streets have been part of the heart of Green Bay's business district since the area was first platted as the village of Navarino in 1829 and became the town of Green Bay less than ten years later. During the middle 20th century, downtown Green Bay continued to be an economic center with shops, restaurants, and other services available. Otto Stiller Collection of the Neville Public Museum of Brown County, # 6209.229." - Excerpt and photo from the Neville Public Museum's Snapshots in Time Webpage

US Code Title 17, Section 107 permits the fair use of photographs for historical research.  It is the intention of the use of the above photos and quotations from the Neville Public Museum archive to portray the historical aspect of the now non-existant Kaap's Restaurant building to continue the traditions of Kaap's Restaurant.  If you wish to acquire photographic prints of the photos in the Neville Public Museum's archive, contact the Neville Public Museum at (920) 448-4460.