Who is George Webb?

The 6108 Bluemound Road,
Milwaukee location.  4/7/18  (dwm)

George Webb is a who and a what.

He and his wife, Evelyn opened a hamburger parlor in Milwaukee back in 1948.

George Webb wanted to own a neighborhood restaurant open 24 hours a day.

Mrs. Webb's recipe for chili is still used, 70 years later.

Just a burger place wasn't enough.  Over time, George Webb became known for chili, soup, and burgers.  Breakfast was in demand too, and it's still offered all hours of the day.

It was the idea of being open all hours that lead to one of the features G. Webb's is known for, the double clocks.

Local officials back in the late 1940's and 50's didn't want establishments open 24 hours a day.

Yet they didn't account for Mr. Webb's resourcefulness.  According to the restaurant's history page, Webb decided they would comply with the ordinance.  Instead they would be open 23 hours, 59 minutes every day.

G. Webb's double clocks on the wall.
4/7/18  dwm

To illustrate their obedience to the letter of the law, he installed two clocks in his shop, set one minute apart, to demonstrate they closed and re-opened once a day.

The ordinance changed, the clocks remain.  The pair where we ate appeared to show the exact same time, however.

George Webb's is famous in Milwaukee as a neighborhood place featuring good, dependable fare at a good price.  I'll agree with that.  Two of us had a combo and paid less than $12!

It wasn't the best hamburger I've ever had.  It was good, the fries were especially tasty.  The menu said the combo was less than 400 calories.  I enjoyed it.

Even more, I like the atmosphere.  It's a lunch counter with booths and stools lining the counter with just a few extra tables.  We arrived near the end of the lunch rush and it was packed.

GW's famous challenge.  (dwm photo)

There are 27 locations.  The place we stopped on Bluemound Road had a neighborhood feel to it.  I suspect if you walk in for breakfast most diners know each other.

George Webb may be best known for its predictions.  Mr. Webb offered a fantastic special when the local baseball team won 12 in a row.

In 1987, the Brewers squad forever remembered as "team streak" did it.  They won their 12th in a dramatic comeback at County Stadium over the Texas Rangers.

George Webb paid off the challenge.  Over the next three days, they prepared and gave away 168, 194 burgers.  The offer still stands, and there is a smaller on-going wager as well, when the Brewers score 5 runs in a game - the next day you can buy 5 burgers for 5 bucks.

Check out George Webb next time you're in Milwaukee.  It's fun, it's local, and it's pretty good.