Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
JASPER – The Glockenspiel that has greeted visitors to the Schnitzelbank for nearly 40 years is as much a part of the Jasper restaurant as its bratzel and sauerbraten.
The original Glockenspiel was a beloved icon – its bells sent out their first chimes in 1988 – but it was time for something new.
On July 24, the Hanselman family unveiled the new Glockenspiel, the result of a three-year construction project. The new one is bigger, more animated and has real bells and new characters.
Every hour, the performance begins. Songs include the Schnitzelbank song, “The Chicken Song,” with a lively dancing rooster, and the “Beer Barrel Polka.”
Alan Hanselman, co-owner of the restaurant with his sister Gail Hettinger, said the new Glockenspiel showcases the county’s rich German heritage and enhances the overall experience of the restaurant.
“It’s a draw, especially for bus loads,” Hanselman said. “It was popular when we put it in the first time but this one is able to do a lot more.”
Hanselman’s father Larry had the vision for the first Glockenspiel. Hanselman said the new version is very much a loving tribute to his dad and all he did to grow the Schnitzelbank from its early days.
Hanselman said his parents Larry and Betty opened a tavern in 1961 on land a short distance from where the Schnitzelbank would be built. The tavern had a good customer base, but it kept losing business to other local taverns that would sell their beer for a nickel cheaper. Tired of losing to the competition, Larry Hanselman decided to begin serving food. Hanselman’s parents went to the best German cooks in Jasper and asked for their recipes. The other taverns couldn’t compete with the Hanselmans’ food items, which had customers lined up out the tavern door.
Those recipes are still used today – the goulash, the sauerbraten, the rolladen, wienerschnitzel are made the same today as in the beginning.
That decision to lean into Jasper’s German heritage would set the future Schnitzelbank on the successful path that has made the restaurant a southern Indiana dining destination.
The Hanselman family has built on the success of the restaurant and expanded into the hospitality industry. Recipients of the Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award in 2024 from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, Hanselmans Incorporated includes Schnitzelbank Restaurant & Catering, Hampton Inn – which is the No. 1 Hampton Inn in the United States – and Klubhaus61, a full-service event center and a popular choice for weddings.
In 2012, the restaurant won the Super Bowl Challenge for Best Sandwich in Indiana with its Bratzel, a jumbo German pretzel lightly covered with sauerkraut, two Merkley Bratwursts and a drizzle of honey mustard sauce.
Whitney Lubbers, executive director of Dubois County Visitors Center, said the Hanselmans are “tourism champions in Dubois County.”
“They take pride in their endeavors and are dedicated to providing the best service possible. As a result, they have the award-winning Schnitzelbank restaurant that is famous for not only providing made-from-scratch food offerings but also an atmosphere that elevates the dining experience,” Lubbers said. “The Hanslemans live for hospitality and welcome all to be their guests. Visit Dubois County feels extremely blessed to have these dedicated individuals in our community, being a catalyst for economic growth.”
Alan Hanselman sat down with Southern Indiana Business Report to talk about the growth of the family business and how the restaurant and Jasper embrace the city’s German heritage.
Talk about the early days of the Schnitzelbank?
In 1971, Dad tore down the tavern and started this. He said, ‘It’s time to build something bigger.” To get a loan from the bank he needed a $25,000 down payment. He went to five family members and asked them to loan him $5,000 and they gave it to him. He always said he paid them back first before the bank because he couldn’t look them in the face until he paid them. All six of us kids worked here at that time. We were the table clearers and the hostesses and we all grew up working in the business.
How has the building changed?
When it first opened, we had the salad bar room and this back room. We could seat about 100 and it was full all the time. Dad added on two more rooms in 1973. He didn’t add on again until 1988 when he added the Glockenspiel and the gift shop. We can seat about 275 now. That’s pretty big for a little town of about 15,000. We have so much industry in Jasper and that’s what really keeps us going. The sales people come in from all over the world and they want to be in a private room.
Where did his idea for the Glockenspiel come from?
That was his idea back in 1988 and it was a great addition. The front of the building really didn’t look too German and Dad wasn’t too concerned about that until the Strassenfest started to celebrate the German heritage and Dad said we’ve got to make this look more German.
What’s next?
Our next project is outdoor seating. We have customers who, since COVID, don’t want to eat indoors. COVID was a challenge for restaurants, a lot of them didn’t make it. We couldn’t open, so we had to shift and make everything to go. Our waitresses helped in the kitchen.
Jasper’s sister city is Pfaffenweiler, Germany. What are some of the activities between the cities?
We have a teacher exchange program and a culinary program. Three chefs from here went to Pfaffenweiler last year. We send about 21 students who are taking German there for two weeks every other year. The Sister Cities board fund raises to pay for their plane tickets and they stay with host families. It’s been really successful.
Hours of operation
The Schnitzelbank, 393 Third Ave., Jasper, is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and select Sundays.
