JoDee and I took the day after our anniversary to head to Frankenmuth again. (I think we’re like the experts of this little town, since we’ve been going there almost every year since we’ve been going out). Unfortunately, much has changed in the years we’ve been going: the School-Haus shopping mall is no more, Memory Lane Arcade is now a cooking store, and several shops we looked forward to seeing have since shuttered their doors (notably the pan-Asian shop). But, many things haven’t changed in Frankenmuth, and I think that’s part of the reason we like going there so much. The place still has that small-town feel, and it closely guards the tourist-trap feeling we’ve come to know and love. Heck, even their “high-tech” haunted house doesn’t look all that high-tech.
Every time we’ve gone to Frankenmuth, we’re reminded that no matter how things change, there’s still a place for both JoDee and I there, even if it is behind some cheezy wood cutouts.
More than you cared to know
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Not sure, since we didn’t go into Zhender’s basement this time around. I’ve seen the robotic machines elsewhere, though, so I’m not sure if it’s quite the tourist attraction it used to be.
Yeah, that arcade was special to both JoDee and I. It was the first time I saw a kid-sized video game, and the first time I’ve seen a Mario pinball machine.
When Memory Lane closed, it was like a part of me died. 
A funny story about the School Haus mall… last time Lisa and I were in Frankenmuth it was still open, but there wasn’t a single retailer inside that was actually open. There was 1 store that still had stuff in, but it was closed. It felt just like going back into your school a week after summer vacation started – empty halls, echos, lonliness. We looked around a bit and then hightailed it out before the creepy janitor murdered us with the hook that used to be his right hand.
Incidentally, every time we’ve been to Frankenmuth one of the lame “print” art galleries has Emmett Kelley Jr. (or however it’s spelled) to sign prints of sad-faced clown paintings. Ugh.
Is the brew pub at the top of the hill (overlooking the river) still open? They had some decent beverages from what I can remember.
Unfortunately the Brewery was closed when we were there. Apparently rumour has it that the owners thought paying state taxes was optional, so the state shuttered their doors. I’ve heard they’ll re-open in August, and I’ll be damn pissed if they aren’t. The beverages were top notch. 
Yeah, we’ve noticed the steady decline in the School Haus. Slowly stores would leave, to the point where there was nothing left. Quite creepy indeed.
I know there was heated debate over that brewery for years before it got built. The land around it was owned by (I think) the Zhender family and they refused to allow the addition of parking that was needed for handicap spaces etc. Apparently they were dead-set against a brewery in their small town. Sure… kill people with your chocolate cheese but don’t let’em wash it down with a cold brewskie.
The School-Haus shopping mall is gone? That’s a real shame. I was hoping to see it again this december (I haven’t been to Frankenmuth in 19 years).
Echoes…
- I wonder if it's too soon to post that Coffee House Coders is on Wednesday, so as to get it on @lmorchard's radar.
- Corralary: If you've let your codebase get to the point where developers complain it's formatted wrong, fire your management.
- Managed to set the coffee pot this morning without putting water in it. Got a nice hot pot of nothing this morning for my trouble
- No problem. Sorry the response was late. :) LMK if you want any more recommendations. :)
- voted for "disagree"
Are the Coke museum and that creepy robotic Coke machine in the labyrinthinian Zender’s basement still there at least?
Damnit, that arcade was the first time I had ever seen Pac-Mania… :,(