1440-1442 Walnut [1] 

Grammer’s  Restaurant

Grammer’s re-opened in the late winter of 2008, serving beer, bratwurst, mettwurst, and soft pretzels. Martin Wade, local restaurant investor, purchased Grammer’s from former city councilman and Over-the-Rhine raconteur, Jim Tarbell, who had owned it since 1984.  It is the oldest pre-Prohibition German restaurant to remain in Over-the-Rhine.  

Anton (Anthony) Grammer, a baker born in Wurttemberg Germany in June of 1835, opened his Cincinnati saloon and boarding house in 1872, near the corner of Vine and 15^th Sts. , at number 3 15^th St .  In 1883, he is listed [2] (still as Anthony) with a boarding house at “8 and 5” 15^th St. and a saloon still at 3 15^th St . 

In 1888-89,[3] he is listed as Anton Grammer under both “Saloons” and “Boarding Houses” at 550 Walnut St., which was near it current location under the pre-1897 numbering system. 

The 1900 Census lists both Anthony and his son, Frank, as “saloonists,” living at 1446 Walnut St. with  Anton’s wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter, Louisa, 15.  At that time, six bakers from Germany were listed as boarders. 

The present building on Walnut St. was not built until 1911. The Bakers Singing Society (1861-1911) composed of German bakers, made Grammer’s their home.  Anton would host unemployed and newly arrived bakers until a job could be found for them. 

The beveled glass doorway and enclosure were imported from Germany .  The ceiling is pressed tin made by Edwards Manufacturing, a local company.  A middle room held billiard tables and a back room, with a separate entrance, was used by regular patrons.[4]  Those familiar with Grammer’s over the years remark on how little it has changed, and that is a good thing!

When Jim Tarbell owned Grammer’s, he discovered and uncovered a wall mural with a Rhine Valley scene that had been painted over during World War II, as part of the second spasm of anti-German sentiment to seize Cincinnati .

Anton’s son, Frank, operated Grammer’s until his death in 1950.