BJ's Restaurant: A Legacy of Family and Tradition

Founded in 1986 by Jerry Kimball, BJ's is now proudly owned and operated by Jerry's son-in-law, Carl Kilgore, his daughter, Rebecca, and granddaughters, Cassandra and Madeline. Built on generations of family business ownership, BJ's continues to honor the legacy of the Kimball family.

The history of BJ's dates back to 1864, when James Kimball and his four children moved to Briggsville, WI. In 1884, James' sons, Frank and William, opened Kimball Bros. General Store, which still stands today next to the Briggsville post office.

In 1918, Frank and William went their separate ways. Frank's son took over the general store, while William and his son Robert opened a hardware store, a funeral home, and a flower shop in nearby Wisconsin Dells. While the family no longer owns these businesses, they are still in operation. In the 1950s, William and his son sold their holdings to pursue a new venture, the VanHotel, located in downtown Wisconsin Dells, where Chalet Lanes is now situated. That same year, Robert and his wife Ruth Vanschyock welcomed a son, Howie Kimball (yes, that Howie!). Howie spent his teenage years honing his culinary skills in restaurants across Wisconsin and Colorado. During World War II, he served as a cook at the Badger Army Ammunition Plant south of Baraboo.

In 1946, Howie and his family relocated to Dalhart, TX, where they opened a small restaurant called Lavonna Lunch. However, the dust bowl and the ensuing economic downturn forced them to move back to Wisconsin Dells in 1951. Howie spent his summers cooking in the area, and by 1958, he opened The Terrace Grill overlooking the Wisconsin River, a highly successful endeavor.

Taking advantage of his success, Howie expanded in 1960 with a drive-in restaurant next to the Deer Park in Wisconsin Dells. In 1964, he added a small dining room and introduced Howie's Huge Breakfast, the same beloved dish we still serve today. He sold The Terrace Grill and, in 1966, purchased a 75-seat restaurant, Howie's Restaurant, which became a local favorite with long lines both morning and night.

In 1969, Howie suffered a heart attack. Jerry, Howie's son, stepped in to manage both Howie's Restaurant and Howie's Drive-in. Jerry's close friend, Cliff Jacobson, eventually took over running the drive-in. Howie later sold the drive-in in 1970 to focus on his main restaurant.

Jerry continued to help his father while pursuing a college education. In 1973, after graduation, Jerry informed Howie that he no longer wanted to work for him but was open to becoming a partner. Howie sold Jerry half of the restaurant for $11,000.

In 1977, Jerry and his friend Jim Jacobson opened a 120-seat restaurant where Pizza Pub now stands. After a year, Jerry sold his share to focus more on Howie's Restaurant. In 1980, Jerry took over Chuckwagon Restaurant in downtown Wisconsin Dells, remodeled it, and renamed it Dellhouse, with his brother Dave and Dave's wife Pat running it. In 1983, Jerry saw potential in a business called Nick's in Lake Delton. Although he couldn't secure financing initially, he struck a deal with the owner in 1985 to rent the space for one year before buying it for $180,000. In 1986, Jerry rebranded the restaurant as BJ's, named after his daughter Becca Jean. At that point, Jerry's brother Dave ran Howie's Restaurant and Dave's wife managed Dellhouse, while Jerry focused on his new venture. By 1987, after a successful first year, Jerry bought BJ's outright for $180,000.

Throughout the 1990s, BJ's continued to thrive, serving over a thousand customers a day. However, 1996 brought challenges for Jerry. While BJ's was thriving, Jerry went through a divorce. After this, his ex-wife, Marlene, took ownership of Howie's, and Jerry retained BJ's.

In 2006, disaster struck when an electrical fire destroyed BJ's. It was rebuilt in 2007, and Jerry made the bold decision to reinvent the restaurant as a bar and grill. However, this concept didn't resonate as well with customers, so two years later, BJ's reverted to its original breakfast-focused menu.

In 2015, Jerry began preparing for retirement by hiring his son-in-law, Carl Kilgore, as his apprentice. Carl, along with Jerry's daughter Rebecca, took on increasing responsibilities in the restaurant, with an eye toward taking over. In 2020, Jerry retired, and Carl assumed full responsibility for running BJ's. The family has worked tirelessly to honor the restaurant's rich history while making thoughtful updates. In that same year, BJ's underwent a minor remodel, and Carl and Rebecca implemented a new POS system to replace the old hand-written tickets.

Today, Carl and Rebecca proudly own BJ's, with their daughters helping to manage the daily operations. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to delivering the same timeless breakfast experience you've come to love while continuing to innovate and improve.

We look forward to serving you and your family here at BJ's and are excited to welcome you to our continued legacy.