Kopp's Custard: Milwaukee's 75-Year Frozen Custard Legacy

Kopp's Frozen Custard stands as Milwaukee's most enduring custard institution, founded in 1950 by German immigrant Elsa Kopp and continuing to serve premium frozen custard at its historic Glendale location for 75 years. This North Shore landmark represents authentic Milwaukee food culture while maintaining the innovative spirit that made it the first custard stand to offer rotating "Flavor of the Day" specialties. Built on the former site of the Milky Way drive-in that inspired Happy Days' Arnold's Drive-In, Kopp's combines historical significance with genuine custard craftsmanship that has earned national recognition, including Vice Presidential visits and a 2024 ranking as America's #11 burger destination.

The Glendale location at 5373 N. Port Washington Road continues the family business legacy established by Elsa Kopp during Milwaukee's post-war custard boom, when she opened her first stand as an economic necessity that transformed into a cultural phenomenon. Today, son Karl Kopp maintains the operation using many of the same 70-year-old custard machines, preserving both quality and tradition that define Milwaukee's frozen custard capital status.

From immigrant to Milwaukee institution

Elsa Kopp's journey from German immigrant to frozen custard pioneer began with hardship and determination. Arriving in Milwaukee in 1929 at age 18, Elsa eventually married Karl Kopp Sr., a tool and die maker who developed Parkinson's disease in the 1940s, creating severe financial strain. Working various jobs including at Militzer's Bakery, Elsa met Leon Schneider (founder of Leon's Frozen Custard), who provided equipment and guidance when she decided to open her own custard stand in 1950.

The original Kopp's opened at 6005 W. Appleton Avenue in 1950, quickly becoming a Milwaukee staple during the prosperous 1950s. By 1960, Elsa had begun revolutionary experiments with custard flavors, creating what would become Kopp's signature innovation: the "Flavor of the Day" concept that mixed chocolate and vanilla custards - initially considered "heretical" by frozen custard traditionalists but ultimately adopted industry-wide.

The business expansion accelerated through the 1960s as son Karl Jr. assumed daily operations, moving to a new Greenfield location in the mid-1960s while maintaining the original Appleton Avenue site. The Glendale location opened in 1977 when Kopp's immediately moved into the former Milky Way drive-in space, connecting the business to broader American pop culture history since the Milky Way had inspired the exterior design of Arnold's Drive-In from "Happy Days."

Critical milestones include Elsa's 1998 retirement after 48 years in the business, her death in 2003 at age 92, and the establishment of three current locations under family ownership - Glendale and Greenfield operated by Karl Kopp, with the Brookfield location owned by the McGuire family, former business partners who bought the original Appleton Avenue site in 1975.

Current operations and visitor experience

Schedule and hours

The Glendale location operates Sunday-Thursday 10:30 AM-10:00 PM and Friday-Saturday 10:30 AM-11:00 PM, serving as both working custard factory and nostalgic gathering place. Visitors encounter a bustling walk-up operation with no traditional seating - only standing tables inside and limited outdoor benches and cement risers. The atmosphere balances "joyful" energy with occasional "hectic" crowding during peak times, maintaining an authentic 1950s custard stand aesthetic complete with stainless steel equipment and paper hat service.

The ordering system requires navigation of two separate lines: one for custard (which can accommodate all orders) and another specifically for grill food. First-time visitors often find this confusing, but staff efficiency with custard service contrasts with longer waits for made-to-order burgers that can exceed 15 minutes. Credit cards are accepted, and a mobile app provides flavor forecasts and ordering convenience.

Famous Kopp’s Jumbo Burgers

Kopp's famous "jumbo" burgers stretch almost six inches across, served on oversized buns with "The Works" combination of ketchup, Dusseldorf mustard, sweet pickle relish, and fried onions. The food menu maintains Milwaukee's butter-rich burger tradition alongside consistently praised French fries and onion rings.

Flavor of the Day

Menu highlights center on the frozen custard featuring daily rotating "Flavor of the Day" specialties alongside always-available vanilla and Swiss chocolate. Signature flavors include Tiramisu, German Chocolate Cake, Cherry Amaretto Cheesecake, Caramel Apple with nuts, and Red Velvet Cake. You can also sign up for “Flavor Alerts” so you’ll never miss your favorite.

The high-butterfat custard contains no thickeners or stabilizers and traditionally comes garnished with triangle wafer cookies. Elaborate sundaes like the Kopp's Special feature four scoops with pineapple, raspberry, strawberry sauces, hot fudge, pecans, bananas, and cherry, while the Turtle Sundae has earned recognition as "one of the best in the Midwest."

North Shore significance

The Glendale location anchors Milwaukee's North Shore frozen custard culture while occupying a site of genuine American pop culture significance. Built on the former Milky Way drive-in location, Kopp's literally sits where the external inspiration for Happy Days' Arnold's Drive-In once operated, connecting visitors to 1950s nostalgia that the business authentically represents rather than merely imitates.

Within North Shore context, Glendale represents "one of the most progressive of the northeast Milwaukee suburbs" while maintaining "historic charm with modern allure." Kopp's serves as a democratic gathering place where "suburban soccer teams out for post-game treats are rubbing shoulders with date-night adults and buttoned-down businesspeople alike," embodying the community character that defines North Shore culture.

The location benefits from Milwaukee's status as the "unofficial frozen custard capital of the world," where Kopp's ranks among the "Big Three" custard institutions alongside Leon's and Gilles. This positioning reflects Milwaukee's unique frozen custard density and quality standards that distinguish the city nationally.

Media recognition and notable accolades

Kopp's has achieved remarkable media attention including two Vice Presidential visits that generated national coverage. In 2010, Vice President Joe Biden's campaign stop produced the famous "smartass" exchange with manager Scott Borkin over tax policy, resulting in coverage from Esquire magazine, Fox & Friends, and major news outlets. Earlier, Vice President Dick Cheney made an unannounced 2004 visit at Bart Starr's suggestion during his reelection campaign.

National food recognition reached its pinnacle in 2024 when Yelp Elite ranked Kopp's #11 among America's "20 best places to grab a cheeseburger" - the only Wisconsin restaurant making the national list. OnMilwaukee.com named it "Milwaukee's best frozen custard, 2010," receiving "almost three times the number of votes than the runner up, Leon's."

Food journalism coverage includes features in Milwaukee Magazine's comprehensive "Frozen Custard Forever" story, CBS 58's "Five Families of Frozen Custard" special, and the popular "Doughboys" podcast. The Milwaukee Record dubbed Kopp's the "Cadillac of frozen desserts" while including it in their "Mandatory Milwaukee" series representing authentic local culture.

Recent media attention includes Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito's 2024 Stanley Cup visit (as a former Kopp's employee using the trophy as a custard bowl) and the 2025 "Mr. Baseball" flavor honoring deceased Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, featuring caramel malt custard with beer nuts, fudge-covered peanuts, and Miller Lite.

Industry innovation and lasting influence

Kopp's revolutionary "Flavor of the Day" concept fundamentally transformed frozen custard culture nationwide. Beginning around 1960 when Elsa Kopp first mixed chocolate and vanilla custards - shocking frozen custard purists - this innovation became standard practice across Milwaukee's custard establishments and influenced the broader industry.

The business maintains authentic 1950s operations using many original custard machines now over 70 years old, demonstrating commitment to traditional quality while continuously developing new flavor combinations. Monthly specials like the current French Silk Pie Sundae (featuring Swiss chocolate custard, pastry pieces, cream cheese topping, whipped cream, and chocolate flakes) showcase ongoing culinary creativity within traditional frameworks.

Quality standards include high-butterfat content custard made without thickeners or stabilizers, generous portion sizing, and premium ingredient sourcing that maintains consistency across 75 years of operation.

Practical visitor guidance

Current visitors should expect premium frozen custard quality within an authentic no-frills atmosphere that prioritizes substance over comfort. The standing-only dining format and potential crowding during peak hours reflect traditional custard stand operations rather than modern restaurant conveniences.

Essential recommendations include trying the daily Flavor of the Day in a dish rather than cone (custard melts quickly), ordering the highly regarded Turtle Sundae, and experiencing a jumbo burger with "The Works" alongside consistently excellent French fries. The mobile app provides flavor forecasts and ordering convenience, while visiting during weekday afternoons minimizes wait times.

Understanding the two-line ordering system prevents confusion, and patience with made-to-order grill items ensures satisfaction with both custard speed and burger quality. The decorative cow statues provide popular photo opportunities, while the portrait of founder Elsa Kopp inside connects visitors to the authentic family business story that continues today.

Conclusion

Kopp's Custard Glendale represents authentic Milwaukee food culture through 75 years of family operation that combines innovation with tradition. The business succeeds by maintaining Elsa Kopp's original quality standards while serving as a democratic community gathering place that attracts everyone from suburban families to national politicians. Its significance extends beyond frozen custard to embody Milwaukee's immigrant success stories, innovative food culture, and commitment to authentic local institutions that resist modernization pressures while remaining genuinely contemporary.

For visitors seeking Milwaukee's frozen custard capital experience, Kopp's Glendale delivers premium quality within historical context that connects 1950s nostalgia to ongoing community life, making it essential for understanding both Milwaukee food culture and American frozen custard excellence.