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w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m D e c e m b e r 2 0 14 • I NSIGH T | 31 operated, oen for generations. Roepke's, for example, has been in the family since 1968. Open only for dinner, the typical menu will feature relish trays, breads, soups, salads and a hearty meal. Meticulously well-kept, many have changed little from the way they appeared generations ago, providing both a sense of comfort and nostalgia. "e menu has changed a bit, though. We serve a lot more fish than we used to," Roepke says. Most will also have a busy bar, serving another Wisconsin classic, the Old Fashioned, complete with either olives or cherries. Why Calumet County has retained so many of its supper clubs is a bit of an unknown, but there seem to be two prevailing theories: One suggests it's because the region was settled by hard- working farm families that needed a "night out" at the end of the week. Aer the area industrialized, those workers still looked forward to socializing at the club at the end of the week. A second points out that many of the supper clubs are in rural areas where they are the only business or one of few businesses. ey give the community its character. Ron Faiola is not one to discount the theories, but he thinks the longevity and resurgent popularity of supper clubs are tied directly to what they represent: a personal connection. "ey are family run and provide a different level of service and that is what makes them so attractive," says Faiola, who explored the state's supper club culture in his PBS documentary "Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old- Fashioned Experience." He also authored a book by the same title and is working on a second. "People aren't rushed, it's not wall-to-wall TVs and it's just a better experience," he says. "e word is getting out. In many parts of the state, supper clubs have become an important part of the tourism fabric." Fox Business Loans www.foxcu.org • Vehicle and Equipment • Lines of Credit • Real Estate • Construction • SBA • Credit Cards Helping you meet your financial needs! 15 locations from Green Bay to Oshkosh! Equal Housing Opportunity T here is more to Ariens Co. than snow blowers. True, at this time of year, that may be the one piece of power equipment homeowners are most grateful for, particularly with the record- setting snowfalls that have already struck some parts of the country. Plus, you have to love the commercials. But this past year has also seen the company unveil some new products that might not immediately make you think of the Calumet County- based equipment manufacturer. In 2014, the company partnered with Polaris to introduce the Gravely Atlas JVS, a job site vehicle compact enough to easily move around, yet with the power to tackle many of the towing, hauling and dumping jobs of a small truck. Also new this year, the company introduced a line of work clothes specifically designed for those who work outdoors in Wisconsin's tough winter conditions. In partnership with Gempler's, a manufacturer of commercial outdoor work wear, the company now offers its Ariens Ultimate Snow Apparel product line of outdoor gear including "parkas, coats, baselayers, winter boots and everything in-between." Calumet County's Ariens branches out with new product lines