GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A Green Bay institution reopened to the public Tuesday.
Al’s Hamburger is now run by someone not a member of the Rank family, who opened the restaurant back in 1934.
Earlier this year, restaurant veteran Michael Wirz purchased Al’s Hamburger from the family. It shut down just last month, but now with Wirz at the helm, the downtown eatery turned the grill back on.
“We prepped work for about 4 days straight before we opened to get all the recipes right, all the settings right,” says Wirz. “I was allowed by the previous owners to come in and work with them to learn the recipes and their methods of preparation.”
82 years ago, Al Rank first opened the doors and ran it for five decades before turning it over to his son George. George Rank died two years ago, and family members had been operating Al’s Hamburger since up until early July.
Michael Wirz says during his “soft open” friends and family were complementary about getting down the classics like burgers and hash.
“They said the food’s spot on, pretty good, they like the new decor and the new hours,” Wirz says. “We got pretty positive reviews.”
Larry is a long-time customer and sat in for lunch on opening day.
“Two thumbs up,” says Larry, who ordered his usual cheeseburger with fried onions. “It’s very good.”
In addition to several new items on the menu, a major change Wirz is rolling out is expanding the hours of operation. Al’s Hamburger will now be open until 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
“It gives everyone a chance to come in. If you have a 9-to-5 job and closing at 2 every day, you have a very small window to come in here,” explains Wirz.
He also is positioning Al’s Hamburger to feed hungry bar-goers and late night revelers out and about downtown.
“It’s important. We only have one option at the moment, hot dog carts aren’t down here anymore,” says Wirz. “It’s a void that needs to be filled and I’m willing to fill it.”
Wirz hopes to not only welcome the regulars back to Al’s Hamburger, but get future generations to make the classic eatery their destination.
