Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant is a family owned, casual dining restaurant in Sister Bay, Wisconsin; it is known for its Swedish cuisine and Scandinavian experience, as well as for the goats that live on its roof.[1]

Goat on roof

History

In 1949, Al Johnson, the owner, opened a restaurant that he called Al's Home Cooking, which is now called Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant & Butik.[2] In 1973, Al Johnson renovated the restaurant by importing wooden logs from a building in Norway and added a sod roof.[3] Al's wife, Ingert, changed the interior to a more traditional Scandinavian design, and she added a gift shop called the Butik as a time filler for restaurant patrons waiting to be seated.[4] After the renovation was complete, a friend gave Johnson a goat named Oscar as a joke, and someone decided to put Oscar on the roof as a joke. He later caught the attention of pedestrians, and inspired Al to obtain additional goats and put them on the roof as a marketing gimmick.[5] In 1996, the Johnsons registered the "Goats on the Roof" trademark, so that other restaurants in the United States can't have goats on their roofs.[6]

Location

Al Johnson's is on the main street in the town of Sister Bay, which is located in Door County, Wisconsin.[7]

Goat Cam

The restaurant has two cameras that overlook the roof, allowing people to watch the goats at any hour of the day from spring to October.[8] The goats are removed from the roof at night.[9]

References
  1. "Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant Butik - Sister Bay, WI in Door County 800-241-9914." Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant Butik - Sister Bay, WI in Door County 800-241-9914. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. Web.
  2. Silvers, Amy Rabideau. "Al Johnson, Johnson of Door County Was Known for Unique Restaurant." Review. Journal Sentinel 14 June 2010: n. pag. Print.
  3. SCHECK, JUSTIN, and STU WOO. "Lars Johnson Has Goats on His Roof and a Stable of Lawyers to Prove It." The Wall Street Journal. N.p., 17 Sept. 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. Print.
  4. "Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant Butik - Sister Bay, WI in Door County 800-241-9914." Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant Butik - Sister Bay, WI in Door County 800-241-9914. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. Web.
  5. SCHECK, JUSTIN, and STU WOO. "Lars Johnson Has Goats on His Roof and a Stable of Lawyers to Prove It." The Wall Street Journal. N.p., 17 Sept. 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. Print.
  6. SCHECK, JUSTIN, and STU WOO. "Lars Johnson Has Goats on His Roof and a Stable of Lawyers to Prove It." The Wall Street Journal. N.p., 17 Sept. 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2013. Print.
  7. "Remembrances of Al Johnson - DCFF." Remembrances of Al Johnson - DCFF. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. Print.
  8. Rosenzweig, Gregg. "Top 10 Most Extraordinary Restaurants - Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant - YP.com." YP.com. N.p., 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.
  9. "Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant Butik - Sister Bay, WI in Door County 800-241-9914." Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant Butik - Sister Bay, WI in Door County 800-241-9914. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013. Web.
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