Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant is an historic landmark in German Village. (Credit: Schmidt’s Sausage Haus)

By Ken Drenten

Sooner or later, if you are new to the Columbus area, someone will ask, “Have you been to Schmidt’s yet?” That’s because the name Schmidt’s is synonymous with Bahama Mama sausage, jumbo cream puffs and other delicious German food. It’s also part of Columbus history.

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant opened its doors in July 1967, but the Schmidt story goes back further than that. J. Fred Schmidt was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and came to America, settling in south Columbus in the early 1880s.

He opened the Schmidt Meat Packing House in 1886 in south Columbus. His meat business, selling to grocery stores, became well known for its quality products and excellent service.

The area now known as German Village was settled by German immigrants in the early 1800s. The community was platted in 1814 and was originally populated by working-class families who thrived there between 1840 and 1914. World War I, Prohibition and then urban renewal threatened to erase German Village.

But through the efforts of many citizens, primarily the German Village Society in the 1960s, German Village is a historic district of brick streets, architecturally significant homes, beautiful gardens, small shops and restaurants that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

View a video about German Village, including Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and other attractions.

In 1914, Fred’s son George L. opened a food concession stand at the Ohio State Fair. The Schmidt’s food concession is the longest-running and among the most popular at the fair each year. Fred’s grandson George F. opened the restaurant in July 1967 in a brick building once used as a livery stable, just around the corner from the meat packing plant.

Today, the restaurant is itself a National Historic Landmark, operated by the fourth and fifth generations of the Schmidt family, John, Geoff and Andrew. In addition to its restaurant and meat packing businesses, Schmidt’s offers catering, banquet facilities, retail sales, fair/festival food services and sausage trucks.

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus menu has been developed from traditional German recipes and includes appetizers like bratwurst balls, soups and salads, its signature Bahama Mama sausage, bratwurst, knockwurst, schnitzel, sauerbraten, meatloaf and cabbage rolls, and a variety of sandwiches, along with their legendary jumbo cream puffs. And if you hold with the New Year’s tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut for good luck, Schmidt’s is the place to go.

When visiting Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, be sure to get there early for a stroll and a visit to other German Village attractions such as Schiller Park and shops like the Book Loft and the Red Stable.

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, 240 E. Kossuth St., is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Monday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; phone 614-444-6808 (no reservations). Follow the locations of Schmidt’s Sausage Trucks.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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