Chili History Museum

The photo on the right was taken in 1916 by a family member. Notice the spelling of chilli with two L's. This menu was photographed 3 years after Chili John's opened in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Green Bay was not the first opening by John Isaac, he came to Green Bay in 1913 but traveled from Auburn, Illinois where he had operated a saloon and sold his chili since 1902, later opening a restaurant there and then heading to Green Bay when the town went dry.

John's son Ernie headed to California about 1935. Ernie and his wife Myrtle drove in one car. Myrtle's sister Thelma (everyone called her Nettie) and her Husband Leonard LaMere, and their four children, one of them was Harold "Mickey" LaMere, my dad. Learn why they headed to California, the part the war played in expansion, and those early years of chili making by three passionate chili cooks, John Isaac, Ernie Isaac, and Mickey LaMere.

There are so many videos on YouTube proclaiming to tell the true history of John Isaac as well as the early history of Chili John's, Burbank, California. Episode 1: Chili John's The Early Years will begin to dispel falsehoods such as John owning a stagecoach or that the chili was taught to John by Texas cowboys. Because history, matters.

This website will be exploring the history of chili from the days before the Spanish arrived in Mexico and the days of Pemmican before the existence of the United States. A book is in the works which will provide extended history, with highlights appearing within these pages. Some of this history may surprise you if you are a fan of chili history but hopefully there will be enough documentation within this site to realize the true origins and history. Check out our about us page and stay tuned for some interesting stories, a look inside chili parlors, a deep dive into the use of suet versus "grease," and some pretty good chili cookoff photos. Disclaimer: The owners of this site are not affiliated with the current owners of Burbank Chili John's of California, nor Chili John's of Green Bay, Wisconsin and declare the references made within are made for historical purposes. John Isaac passed away shortly after Ernie's 1946 opening in Burbank and the Green Bay and Burbank restaurants completely separated their companies from each other, although the family remained close through Ernie's death. in 1969. Mickey LaMere, Ernie's nephew and protégé took over in 1969 although he had worked with Ernie periodically in the 1960's in preparation of eventual takeover. Mickey LaMere and his wife Edna sold the Burbank establishment outside the family in the early 1990's.

The top right photo is from the early 1950's. From left to right: Leona, a family friend, sits at the counter conversing with Myrtle Isaac, Nettie LaMere and Ernie Isaac. This photo shows the original horseshoe counter as it appeared upon opening in 1946. The counter was made by Mickey LaMere's father, Leonard LaMere.

Edna LaMere and Christine LaMere Logan enjoying a chili cookoff together while Mickey is off somewhere preparing to judge pots coming off the fire.