There’s something delicious waiting for travelers who make the journey to the far northern tip of Door County. You know you’ve arrived when you smell the smoke. Charlie’s Smokehouse has been a fixture in Door County for nine decades and it’s a treasure worth seeking out and savoring. Here’s what you need to know about Charlie’s Smokehouse in Gills Rock.
Door County was settled by fishermen long ago and it has a rich fishing history. The cold clear waters of Lake Michigan hold a tremendous bounty and the little bays of Door County provided shelter for fishing boats.
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The story of Charlie’s Smokehouse started way back in 1932, when Leroy “Roy” Voight opened a little smokehouse in Gills Rock. He started by selling smoked chubs to summer travelers - he used a cigar box as a cash register.
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Roy’s son Charlie started working in the business in the 1950s and he eventually took the operation over, running the smokehouse with his wife Bonnie.
Facebook / Charlie’s Smokehouse
They expanded the product offerings to include locally caught whitefish, trout, and salmon. The business was right on the dock, near the family’s passenger ferry.
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Another big change came in 1984 when the business was given the name of Charlie’s Smokehouse. Before that, it had no name; people just called it “the smokehouse on the dock.”
Google / Robert Kaiser
In 1988, the family moved the business off the dock to a larger location at the top of the hill in Gills Rock. It remains a family business - Charlie’s son Chris now smokes the fish and his wife works in the store.
Facebook / Charlie’s Smokehouse Their three kids are working in the business as well - the fourth generation in the smokehouse! And if for some reason you’re not into smoked fish, the smokehouse even offers ice cream in the summer.
Charlie’s Smokehouse is open year-round, but the hours vary seasonally. For the latest store information and online ordering information, visit Charlie’s Smokehouse online. Once you’ve filled up on smoked fish, here’s another Door County landmark business you’ll want to visit.
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Google / Robert Kaiser
Their three kids are working in the business as well - the fourth generation in the smokehouse! And if for some reason you’re not into smoked fish, the smokehouse even offers ice cream in the summer.
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Address: Charlie’s Smokehouse, 12731 WI-42, Ellison Bay, WI 54210, USA
