Great Lakes Gastfreundschaft (Hospitality) in Frankenmuth

promotemi April 13, 2021July 13, 2022

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By Dianna Stampfler

Most often thought of as a leisure travel destination, Frankenmuth – with its distinctive German flair – is also one of the state’s top locales for corporate events. Dubbed “Little Bavaria” in the early 1950s, this town is rich with tradition, culture, family heritage and plenty of unique spaces and activities for groups of all sizes.

Ideal for large groups, Bavarian Inn Lodge offers over 15,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and is adaptable for trade shows, breakouts, and everything in between. In addition to flexible square footage, the lodge provides direct access to 360 European-themed guest rooms, two lounge areas, an arcade, nightly entertainment and the popular Bavarian Inn Restaurant. Dining facilities are available for groups of up to 350, with customized menu options in addition to the popular Frankenmuth-style chicken dinners and German specialties, many perfected by the company’s matriarch, Dorothy Zehnder (see page ___).

Across the street, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth is known around the country for its all-you-can-eat, family-style chicken dinners that have been served up for groups since its founding in 1856. Similar to the Bavarian Inn Restaurant, banquet rooms at Zehnder’s can accommodate up to 350 people, with a variety of nearby shopping options available before and after meals–including the bakery and sweet shop. Last year, the James Beard Foundation even presented Zehnder’s with its “American Classic Award,” given to locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal and a menu that reflects the character of its community. Zehnder’s is one of just over 100 restaurants nationwide to earn the recognition since the category was introduced in 1998.

Other longtime institutions have their roots in Frankenmuth as well. Regarded as Michigan’s oldest operating brewery (circa 1862), Frankenmuth Brewery holds groups of up to 300 in “The River View” room overlooking the Cass River. The space can be separated into two parts, each offering built in A/V equipment. The “Hops Room” is enclosed, but with windows that open to create a covered patio ideal for receptions or social gatherings. With an on-site restaurant and brewery, the food and beverage elements are covered (including treats like a pie bar, ice cream bar, cheesecake bar and gourmet s’mores bar). Brewery tours can also be coordinated as an add-on for groups.

Although Frankenmuth has plenty of veteran establishments to meet in, one of Frankenmuth’s newest event spaces is WarenHaus Studio, located just steps from downtown. The 2,000-square-foot rustic industrial-style setting features a full catering kitchen, A/V connections and more. On the north end of town, UpTown North Main is a stylish venue with banquet rooms that accommodate all sizes, and include the ability to rent a full bar station, linen service, tables and chairs, an illumination backdrop, A/V and more.

Fischer Hall inside the Frankenmuth Historical Museum, named after the city’s original Fischer Hotel, is an historic site for events like concerts, theater performances, receptions and more. Those looking for an outdoor venue might enjoy the Frankenmuth Farmers Market, with its modern farmhouse-style barn for 85 people, a pavilion area to accommodate large tents and a small conference room for groups of up to 12.

A variety of special activities for groups can also be found in this German-influenced city, including pretzel rolling at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant or sausage making at Willi’s Sausage; the PedAle Trolley (with stops at Grand Traverse Distillery, Black Star Farms and more) and rides aboard the paddlewheel-style Bavarian Belle Riverboat down the Cass River.

However, a visit to Frankenmuth isn’t complete without a stop at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, one of the top tourist attractions in Michigan, welcoming more than two million guests a year. This 320,000-square-foot store (approximately 5.5 football fields) is dubbed the “World’s Largest Christmas Store” and features thousands of personalized ornaments, gifts, nativity scenes, collectibles, Christmas accessories and so much more, 361 days a year.

GET CONNECTED:

Media Contact:

Christie Bierlein
Frankenmuth Chamber & CVB
635 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI 48734
marketing@frankenmuth.org
989-652-6106 x. 20

Reprinted from the Spring/Summer 2021 issue of Michigan BLUE magazine.