GREEN BAY, Wis (NBC 26) -- For decades families in northeast Wisconsin have made trips to one of the longest-standing eateries in the Green Bay area. But the pizza, sandwich, and ice cream shop known as Hansen's Dairy and Deli, which many have grown fond of appears to be closing.
At the intersection of Gray and Mather street in West Green Bay, loyal Hansen's customers have been waiting for months to get their hands on some of their favorite childhood memories.
"Being born and raised in Sturgeon Bay we would take a ride up to Green Bay for the day and maybe go to Bay Beach, but we would always stop by Hansen's and get the Blue Moon ice cream before we headed home," says Shauna Swanson of Green Bay who was looking to take get a reminiscent lunch and snack on Wednesday afternoon.
Problem is, Hansen's has been closed for maintenance according to a sign in the window and recently another sign popped up too, claiming the building and equipment is for sale. It's all-new news for many, that dread what that could mean for the former franchise's future.
"It's just really sad. I told my kids too and they were just really bummed. I told my husband, and he was shocked," says Shana Ouradnik who used to frequent the shop for ice cream and meals with her family.
On the Hansen's Dairy and Deli Facebook page, a post from Tuesday reads, closed permanently thank you for your support. It's a message that appears to be the potential end of an era, that spanned for decades.
"My kids were always excited because even the kid's scoops were way bigger than they would get anywhere else," adds Ouradnik.
And while many people will continue popping into Hansen's parking lot, just to see if the signs hopefully change, all too many more are remembering what this mom-and-pop shop meant to them and their families for the years that it was open.
"Hansen's was definitely a place that I wanted to keep going to and it's going to be greatly missed," adds Swanson who is now on a mission to find her coveted Blue Moon ice cream elsewhere.
The owners of Hansen's Dairy and Deli did not respond when NBC26 reached out, for clarification or comment on the potential closure of the Green Bay fixture.
