Bismarck Building

From Saloon to Army Surplus

One must step on and over a piece of Kalamazoo past in order to enter the Bismarck Building at 121-123 W. Kalamazoo Avenue. Embedded within the tiled doorway is the name “Karl Schanz”, a German businessman who was the proprietor of the Bismarck Buffet, a saloon that offered a free lunch to those who purchased a nickel beer.

Schanz was born in Germany in 1859, and arrived in Kalamazoo in 1878. His first wife Christina passed away in May of 1891. The couple had previously resided in Lafayette, Indiana before moving to Kalamazoo. Schanz married Rosa Neumaier a year later, and together had five children (Carl, Joseph, Albert, Walter, and Marie). He was a member of the Kalamazoo Elks Lodge No. 50, St. Augustine’s Church, and the A.U.V. (German Workingmen’s Benevolent Association).

Opened along the south side of Kalamazoo Avenue around 1887, Schanz (1859-1923) sold beer and liquor out of the first floor of the building, situated just west of The New York Hotel, separated by an alleyway that housed a nearby livery stable. The saloon also functioned as Schanz’s residence. Other businesses were located on the second floor, including a barber and Jack McKerring’s cigar factory. His success would allow Schanz to expand the building westward from the original, two-story storefront. Schanz’s corner neighbor to the east would eventually become the Rickman Hotel in 1907, one of Kalamazoo’s early skyscrapers, and another nearby source for customers.

The location was perfect for business, as the Michigan Central Railroad depot was just across the street. In 1895, Schanz remodeled the interior and exterior of his building. The Kalamazoo Gazette reported on his construction project.

“Karl Schanz has completely remodeled his building on west Kalamazoo avenue. A new cement walk has been laid, a new plate glass front and a complete overhauling of the interior makes it one of the most attractive places in the city. Karl likes everything neat, and the new construction of his place is deserving of much praise.”

–Kalamazoo Gazette, 10 September 1895

Schanz was a prominent figure in the local brewery industry, joining his fellow German-American brewers in producing German-style lagers. For a time, he served as Vice President of the Kalamazoo Brewing Company that was located on the corner of Lake and Portage streets. In April of 1914, on the eve of Kalamazoo voting to abolish saloons a year later, the Kalamazoo Gazette reported that Schanz had his liquor permit renewed. Likely perceiving his primary commercial interests were being thwarted by the new anti-saloon law, Schanz retired from operating his Bismarck Buffet. Despite his retirement, Schanz and his family continued to own the building. Schanz died in 1923 at his home at 1122 W. North Street and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Rosa would live until 1956, when at that time, the building was sold to a local army surplus store.

During the 1920s and 1930s several different businesses rented space in Schanz’s building, including Trio Laundry, Lipman’s Ready to Wear, Watson & Squier Auto Tires, Munger Linen Supply and Baxter Laundry and Dry Cleaning.

Gerber’s Inc. (1951-1992)

Owned by Samuel (1897-1984) and Anna Miller (1898-1983) Gerber, Schanz’s onetime saloon became the longtime home to the beloved army surplus store. Selling a wide variety of discounted dry goods, including military apparel, footwear, luggage, flags, camping equipment, hunting supplies, fishing rods, tarps, watches, tools, and all things military, Gerber’s had something for everyone. Originally founded by the couple in 1942 as Kalamazoo Salvage and Machinery Exchange, a name change later, Gerber’s Inc. moved into their Kalamazoo Avenue store around 1951. The Gerber family sold the store in 1985 after the passing of Samuel. The new owners (James Sands and Juanita Payne) moved the business to 4328 S. Westnedge Ave. around 1992. In 2006, Gerber’s finally called it quits, ending their role as Kalamazoo’s longtime army surplus supplier.

Written by Ryan Gage, Kalamazoo Public Library staff, September 2024