February 7, 2020 – Town of Trenton, WI – There will be new life for Walden – A Supper Club as the restaurant on Wallace Lake is under contract for purchase.
Kevin and Amy Zimmer gathered with staff at the restaurant Friday afternoon and introduced themselves as the new owners.
“We are very excited to preserve an iconic property,” said Kevin Zimmer. “We were most attracted to the dedicated staff as well as the faithful clientele that we saw every time we came out for dinner. Waldens has been our go-to restaurant for many years. We are committed to keeping the restaurant open while making improvements, yet preserving the Wisconsin supper-club feel.”
The supper club is located on the shores of Wallace Lake; it started as a summer home in the 1940s.
The future of the popular restaurant had been in question after the former owner, Bob Walden, died October 4, 2019.
Walden moved to West Bend in 1974 where he was a principal at Jackson and Green Tree Elementary.
In 1989 Bob owned and operated Walden – A Supper Club. In his younger years, he was a member of the Musical Masquers theater group in West Bend. Bob liked solving crossword puzzles, driving cool cars, and being a restaurant owner. He enjoyed vacations in the Eagle River and St. Germain areas, fly fishing, and watching the Packers.
The supper club on the lake has quite a bit of history.
“Bob purchased the restaurant in 1989,” said Karen Walden, Bob’s wife. “It used to be Benike’s before we got it. George and Carol Benike purchased the club from Dot who ran it as Dot’s Club.”
Dot and her husband Nick added the cocktail lounge in 1974.
Neighbors across Washington County are familiar with the supper club that sits on the south shore of Wallace Lake.
According to supper-club website,
Walden presents a Northwoods ambiance of knotty pine and lake shore, a relaxed fine dining experience. Excellent service and delicious entrees accompanied by mouth-watering salads, breads, potatoes, and desserts.
Prime Rib, the house specialty for over 50 years, is served every night. A dry aged center-cut tenderloin steak is also very popular. Walden also features Bavarian Pretzel Chicken, Frog Legs, Lobster Tails, Shrimp, Salmon, a most delicious Shaum Torte. Several other exciting entrees are served including Fish Frys on Fridays, nightly specials and sandwiches.
Walden is available for larger group luncheons and for banquets depending on availability. Several weddings followed by wedding banquets have been held along the shores of the lake.
The dining room seats up to one hundred guests. the cocktail lounge, overlooking the lake seats 52 people at the bar and side bars.
A bit more history on the supper club is below.
Walden-A Supper club began life as a summer home for Lucy and her family from the Milwaukee area in the early 1940’s. Emil Kufahl and his family operated the White Oaks Resort using the current dining area as a bar and four cabins once located along the western boundary of the property.
Kufahl’s were convinced by several Friday customers that they should start offering a Friday Fish Fry. In addition to adding a small kitchen, Kufahls added a bait shop lake side. Rental cabins, boat rental, fish bait sales, bar business and Friday Night Fish Fries kept the White Oaks Resort quite busy.
Several owners succeeded Kufahls each bringing a uniqueness in talent, interest and personality, blending to give Walden a character all its own.
Karl and Mush Hansen greatly expanded the dinner menu beyond the Friday Fish Fry. At this time, the bar was located across the fireplace wall. The Hansens sold the supper club to Nick and Dorothy Jonas who named the restaurant Dot’s Club.
Over a 22-year period, Dot’s Club became an even more inviting place to enjoy the food, the company, the lake and turtle soup. Nick and Dot added the Cocktail Lounge in 1974. The knotty pine was added to the dining room along with the beautiful field stone fireplace.
The Waldens made significant changes in the kitchen, enabling them to expand the menu. Windows were added to the dining room for the view and expanse. Booths were added in the area which had been a front porch for Lucy. Banquets were added to the Cocktail Lounge. And a beautiful patio has been added outdoors, lake-side, next to a waterfall garden.
The property was last assessed at $496,800. Fair market value is listed at $533,100.
