City Spirits: The Sardine Can

GREEN BAY – The Sardine Can property at 128 S. Broadway, Green Bay, began as the Noel Wood Yard.

As prohibition was ending, Lawrence Noel applied for a liquor license in June 1933 and opened a tavern there.

It had a short run before the state put a stop to it.

“In cases where the establishment is also a restaurant, it may continue to sell food, but must cease selling beer, it was announced at the city hall this morning,” a September 1933 Press-Gazette article explained. “Compliance with the provisions is required by state law, it was pointed out, and the city has no discretion in the matter.”

In 1934, it was reestablished as “George Noel’s Tavern” by George A. Noel, who ran it until 1937.

In 1938, the bar was taken over by William Dupont, who called it “Du Pont’s Bar.”

Months later, Dupont went missing.

“Dupont disappeared after he had borrowed $3,500 in cash from the Hochgreve Brewery company to cash the paychecks of customers the first of the month,” a Press-Gazette article stated. “After his disappearance, $1,000 of the money was recovered, but $2,500 is still missing, the sheriff was told. It was at first thought that he might have met with foul play, but when nothing appeared to substantiate this theory, Chris Hochgreve swore out a complaint charging larceny.”

After six months, a license was granted to Anton “Tony” Schwiekofer for the bar location.

“Mayor (Alex) Biemeret pointed out that the Dupont license has not been surrendered or revoked and observed that in a case recently where the tenant was refused a lease on the property, council refunded part of the license fee. The clerk read a letter from the city attorney continuing the opinion that as Dupont’s wife is being evicted for non-payment of rent and because attempts to have her assign the present license have met with refusal, the city is within its rights to issue a new permit for license,” a Press-Gazette article stated.

A week later, William Dupont was taken into custody in Minneapolis, Minn., after postcard notices were sent to police departments throughout the country.

He was brought back to Green Bay, where he pleaded not guilty to grand larceny charges.

In March, he was sentenced to one to two years in the Waupun prison.

“Since his disappearance, he had visited several states, he said,” the Press-Gazette said, “and related that he had lost money in a grain deal at Grand Forks, N.D.”

Tony Schwiekofer and his wife, Viola, ran Tony’s Modernistic Bowl from 1939 to 1945.

Tony died in 1941, and his wife continued to run the business.
His obituary noted him as “the oldest bowler in Green Bay Major League, and in 1939 bowling rolled a 300 score” — a huge feat for the time.

In 1945, Andrew “Andy” Lom took over the establishment as “Andy Lom’s Modernistic Bowl.”

Lom was the Brown County undersheriff, 1936-40, and sheriff, 1940-44.

Andy ran it until 1947, when he turned it over to his sons, Warren and Wallace, who ran it together 1948-67.

During the Lom ownership, the business was met with much contention from the public due to its proximity to a school.
The city’s ordinance at that time stated that “no retail Class B license shall be granted for any premises within 300 feet of any school, hospital or church.”

In 1968, the business was taken over by Elroy and Jeanette Phillips, who ran the location as “Elroy & Jan’s Bar” until 1975.

In 1976, the tavern was under the ownership of Leo and Laverne Van Den Langenberg, who called the place “Van’s Bar” and operated it until 1978.

Over the next decade, it was known under names such as “Con’s Place on Broadway,” “Red’s Little Bit of Texas” and Jumpin Jacks Tavern.”

In 1987, Thomas Coniff took over the business as “Connie’s Bowery.”
Coniff held the license until 2005, when it was transferred to the Sardine Can, established by Chris Hansen and Boyd Konowalski.

Series continues next week