Some Milwaukee traditions have been around longer than the city’s oldest grandparents. One of them started in 1880, back when horses still pulled wagons down the street.
It is a family sausage maker that still works out of a historic factory with a shop right inside. People fly in from Arizona and South Carolina just to stock up, and some leave with a brand new cooler packed to the lid.
Locals have been coming since they were toddlers holding a grandparent’s hand. The shelves hold more than 70 kinds of sausage, plus gift boxes, bacon, and items you will not spot in a regular grocery store.
Keep reading to learn where it is, how the counter works, when to go, and why so many families make it a yearly ritual.
A Sausage Landmark on Doctor M.L.K. Jr Drive
Usinger’s Famous Sausage, also known as Fred Usinger, Inc., sits at 1030 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53203.
It is a meat products store tucked inside a historic factory in Wisconsin’s largest city.
The building is hard to miss. A huge sign on the side of the structure has a way of pulling in people who had no plans to stop.
One family visiting a student at the nearby Milwaukee School of Engineering spotted that sign and wandered in on a whim. They left glad they did, with plans to return.
The shop is not a sit-down restaurant. It is a factory store where shoppers pick out sausages and deli meats to take home, which is exactly what gives it that Old World charm.
Many people call it a Milwaukee institution. Some have been walking through the door for more than five decades.
The address is easy to find, but the real question is what keeps people coming back since the 1800s. The answer starts with a date.
Family Recipes Since 1880
Here is a fun fact for the next trivia night. Usinger’s has been making sausages in Milwaukee since 1880.
That means the company was up and running before the first modern automobiles hit the road. The recipes used today are the original family recipes.
Few businesses can say they have stuck to their roots for that long. Generations of Milwaukee families have grown up with the brand on their tables.
Holiday traditions are part of the story too. Some longtime fans remember the gift boxes that arrived every Christmas from grandparents, and they still connect the name with those warm family moments.
Others recall trips to the shop as small children. One fan first came in 1967 at three years old and still calls the sausage the best around.
The company even had a famous voice on its side. Broadcaster Bob Uecker served as a spokesman, which gave the brand an extra dose of hometown pride.
History is nice, but sausage lovers want to know what is actually inside. That is where the counter comes in.
Seventy Varieties and Counting
Choosing just one sausage here is a real challenge. The shop carries more than 70 varieties.
Brats are the big crowd favorite. Summer sausage, liver sausage, kielbasa, and knockwurst all have loyal followings as well.
Hickory sticks show up on shopping lists, and so does bacon. Fresh sausage sits alongside the smoked and cured options.
The beef summer sausage gets special love from first-timers. More than one shopper has tried it in the store and ended up taking extra home.
Sandwich meats round out the selection. Shoppers describe it as every kind of sausage and lunch meat under one roof.
Some packages come in smaller sizes. That makes it easy for small households to try several kinds without buying a mountain of meat.
Not every bite wins every heart, of course. Taste is personal, and the bratwurst in particular has drawn at least one strong opinion that it was too mild.
Still, with this many links on the menu, there is usually something for every plate. Finding it is easier once the shop’s system makes sense.
How the Counter Works
A little strategy goes a long way at this shop. The process has changed slightly over the years, but it is simple once explained.
Start by grabbing a basket. Shop all the cases in the lobby first.
Next, take a number. When it is called, ask the staff for any extra items and pay at the counter.
The setup keeps things moving, even on busy days. It also gives shoppers time to browse without feeling rushed.
Staff members are known for being knowledgeable. They explain the differences between varieties and answer questions about what goes with what.
That help matters for first-timers. With so many choices, a quick chat can save a lot of guesswork.
Even the items sold as seconds are fresh. That is a nice bonus for bargain hunters who do not mind a less perfect look.
The basket-then-number routine is easy to learn. What surprises many people, though, is the price tag at the end.
Factory Store Savings
Fans who buy the brand at the grocery store have a secret worth sharing. Shopping at the factory deli store can save a few dollars.
Prices here are often called great and very reasonable. Many varieties are on sale at any given time.
There is also a freshness perk. Buying straight from the source means the products have not been sitting on a distant shelf.
Some items sold here may never show up at regular food stores at all. That alone makes the trip feel like a treasure hunt.
Locals clearly enjoy the deals. One cheerful shopper even joked that the prices beat a well-known local discount grocer.
For families stocking up, the savings add up quickly. Buying several pounds for grilling season feels a lot easier on the wallet.
Value is great, but people also mention something harder to put a price on. It has to do with the folks behind the counter.
Friendly Faces Behind the Glass
Patience is a big deal when a customer has no idea what knockwurst is. The team here seems to have plenty of it.
Staff members are often described as friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They take time to explain the different meats and how they vary.
One South Carolina family got a full lesson on the selection from a staffer named Jean. She was patient and kind, and the family left with plans to come back with a bigger cooler.
Phone help earns praise too. A caller placing a large order credited a cheerful employee named Alana for getting it done.
Not every interaction has been smooth. One shopper who returned an expired block of cheese needed two extra trips to get the right replacement.
Overall, though, the counter crew gets warm words year after year. The friendly welcome is a big part of why people treat a visit like a reunion.
Speaking of reunions, plenty of shoppers come from very far away. Their packing tricks are worth knowing.
Packing Sausage for the Trip Home
Out-of-towners have turned sausage packing into an art form. Usinger’s is not sold in some states, including Arizona, so travelers make the most of each stop.
The shop has a section of items that travel well. These shelf-stable picks are handy for anyone without a fridge in the car.
Some families get creative. One group bought non-refrigerated items, left to buy a cooler, then came back and filled it at the counter.
Flying home takes planning. One frequent flyer notes that TSA asked for items in original packaging and frozen when carried on.
That tip can make airport security much smoother. Keeping labels intact helps avoid questions.
Plenty of people build the shop into every Milwaukee visit. It becomes as much a part of the trip as seeing family.
A cooler is great for one trip. For something longer lasting, the shop has other ideas worth a look.
Gift Boxes, Kits, and Merch
Gift shopping for the sausage fan in the family just got easier. The store sells gift boxes, sausage kits, and merchandise.
Gift boxes hold a special spot in many memories. Some people still remember receiving them each Christmas from a grandparent.
Sausage kits make a fun present for someone who loves trying new varieties. They take the guesswork out of choosing.
Merchandise lets fans show off their Milwaukee pride. It is a handy souvenir that will not need a cooler.
Mail order is available too, and loyal customers use it when they cannot visit. Shipping costs can run high for heavy orders, so checking final totals before buying is smart.
The online shop has its quirks. Ordering by phone may be easier for big orders.
Gifts are wonderful, but timing a visit right matters just as much. The calendar plays a bigger role than most expect.
Old World Deli Vibes
Some shops feel brand new every time they remodel. This one proudly does not.
Longtime fans say the store still looks the same as it did in their childhood. That sense of continuity is part of the appeal.
The space has the feel of an Old World deli store. It is called an old school German sausage market by those who know it well.
The store is also well organized. Even with so many products, finding things is not a struggle.
Who will enjoy it most? Home cooks, grill fans, history lovers, and anyone with Milwaukee family roots will feel right at home.
Tourists looking for something truly local get a lot out of it too. It is a slice of the city that has stuck around for well over a century.
With the mood set, the next step is figuring out when the doors are open. The schedule is short and sweet.
Hours, Seasons, and Parking Tips
Early birds and lunch-hour shoppers are in luck. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Sunday is closed. Plan weekend trips for Saturday.
Since doors close at 4 PM, an afternoon arrival can feel rushed. Coming earlier leaves time to browse every case.
Seasons shape shopping habits here. Regulars stock up for summer grilling, then return in fall for cold-weather comfort cooking.
Parking sits right next to the building. Even so, it can be a bit tricky to snag a spot.
A little patience pays off. The deals waiting inside make the effort worthwhile.
For current details or special orders, the official website at usinger.com is a helpful place to check.
Now for the big picture. Is this stop really worth the trip?
Why It Belongs on Your Milwaukee List
Plenty of cities have sausage. Only Milwaukee has this particular piece of its past still running out of a historic factory.
The numbers speak loudly. The shop holds a 4.7-star average from more than 400 people.
Fans praise the selection, the prices, and the helpful staff. Many say they stop every single time they come to town.
No place is perfect. Some find certain brats too mild, and shipping costs have frustrated a few mail-order buyers.
Still, the in-person experience is the heart of it all. A basket, a number, and a friendly chat at the counter go a long way.
For locals, it is a habit passed down through families. For travelers, it is a tasty souvenir that comes home in a cooler.
A sausage plate tells a story here, one that began in 1880 and keeps getting new chapters. Bring a basket, bring some patience, and maybe bring a bigger cooler than planned.
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