The story
Charles Mader founded the restaurant in 1902 under the name The Comfort. During Prohibition it leaned on German food to survive, and when Prohibition ended in 1933 it served Milwaukee's first legal beer at midnight. Charles's son Gustave took over in 1937.
Gerald Ford ate here while president, and John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan dined here before taking office. Kristin Mader, Victor Mader's daughter, now runs it, and it is the oldest operating restaurant in Milwaukee.
Everything that was here
- 1902–present · still open
Mader's German RestaurantRestaurant
Charles Mader opened it in 1902 as "The Comfort." When Prohibition ended in 1933, it served Milwaukee's first legal beer at midnight.
See the map in 1903 →
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Connected places
Nick and Al's Friendly Inn
The Four Deuces
French Country Inn
Baker House
Friar's Inn
Red Star Inn
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Nearby history
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