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Take a tour of Usinger's in Milwaukee, Wis.

7 years 6 months 3 weeks ago Thursday, September 01 2016 Sep 1, 2016 September 01, 2016 5:34 PM September 01, 2016 in News
Source: WBRZ

MILWAUKEE – From the processing, to the casing and packaging, one might think that Usinger's is just a normal sausage shop. But according to the owners, there's a little bit of magic happening at night.

Usinger's is the product of a 136-year-old family business started by Fred Usinger in 1880.

"My great-grandfather was a young sausage maker in Germany," Fritz Usinger said. "He immigrated and got a job making sausage here in Milwaukee." 

The same recipie that Usinger mastered in 1880 is the same one that is made today. But they've added a few more wieners to the menu.

"We do over 150 sausages, recipies and what we call our heritage products, which are recipies from my great-grandfather," Usinger said. "We've maintained those and kept those the same."

The family hasn't even changed the building. Sure, they've made a few renovations since the 19th century, but the business has never left this block.

"It's kind of magical to know that your ancestors worked in the same place that you did, and dealt with the same problems that you did," he said. 

The family even has the chandelier from his great-great-grandmother's home in Germany. But, just like their shop, they've also added on to it slightly. The elves that top the chandelier are all over the building, and for good reason.

According to Usinger, the elves are the ones that make the sausage at night, using magic powers. Humans are just the front for the operation, but the elves are the actual workers. 

Usinger says the elves won't leave anytime soon. And if things go as planned, the business won't leave the family either.

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