Packers-owned restaurant thrived in Manitowoc

Founded by Green Bay Packers players “Fred” Fuzzy Thurston and Max McGee and entrepreneur William Martine, the Left End Steak House was a feature in downtown Manitowoc from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s.

“By Feb. 8 (1965), operators of the new Left End Steak House, 214 N. 8th St., Manitowoc, formally the Towne House, hope to start serving lunches,” wrote the Manitowoc Herald Times on Jan. 25, 1965.

Thurston, a left guard, and McGee, a wide receiver, and William “Bill” Martine opened the establishment at the corner of North Eighth and Buffalo Street after forming a corporation known as TM and M Inc. Thurston and Martine also were part of a corporation called Left Guard, which operated many Left Guard locations throughout Wisconsin and even a steakhouse in Minneapolis. Upon taking ownership of the former Towne House establishment, the trio completed extensive remodeling.

“This was done in a supper club motif of blue, green, and black against a setting of oiled Black Walnut paneling. Mel Aul of Mel Aul Custon Cabinet Co., Appleton, was in charge of the renovation program,” explained a March 9, 1965, Manitowoc Herald-Times article. “The bar room and the dining room were redecorated in the new motif and a new 8-by-20-foot women’s lounge was created utilizing what was formally inaccessible courtyard space. The kitchen was repainted, a new floor was laid and more new equipment was installed.”

Renovations were also completed in the bar room with a new bar top and the back bar was covered with Formica. The cocktail lounge featured custom-made black leather and walnut chairs. Solid walnut dividers were installed between the bar and cocktail lounge. Custom-made light fixtures were also installed for the Left End. Local businesses working on the renovation project included Craft’s Electric, Kasper Construction Company, Peterson Sheet Metal Works, Edwin W. Braunel Company and Julius J. Wergin.

The Left End had 34 employees at the time of its grand opening on March 10, 1965. Packers players came out to support the grand opening, including Paul Hornung.

Expansion of the facility took place in 1971 under the direction of General Manager Edward Schrantz. With the expansion, the Left End could accommodate more than 170 people in its dining room. The new plumbing work was done by Dick Bouril, of Manitowoc, with electrical completed by Stanley Check. With the expansion, the building was extended 70 feet to the corner of Eighth Street and Buffalo Street, and more than 80 feet was added to the structure’s depth.

In 1976, the partners let go of many of the establishments and the Manitowoc location became known as Martine’s Left End. Other owners took over the operations of the business in subsequent years — including Greg Scherer and Paul and Pauline Jagemann — until it closed around 1986.

In February 1953, a fire had destroyed the previous building on the site and the property has been a tavern and restaurant since. The first operator was “Ole” Olson, a former bartender at the old Williams House. Eddie Hopper was the next proprietor, operating as The Club. It was then owned by Les Kugler and Charles E. Piper. Before becoming the Left End, the steakhouse was the former Towne House, owned by Harold Visser until 1965.

Today, the location is Scorpion Bar and Grill.

Amy Meyer is the executive director of the Manitowoc County Historical Society.