It was Harmony Bar for many years. It was sold in 2024, even though it had not been open for a few years, and reopened as The Cellar Door in Sept. 2025.
The Business
While the bottler featured on this page is Henry Grattenthaler Jr., it helps to first outline the earlier business history.
According to the 1893-94 city directory, a sample room operated by Grattenthaler Bros., John A. and Henry Grattenthaler Jr., was located on the southwest corner of Franklin and Fulton Streets.
Around 1894, a new building appears to have been constructed at the southwest corner of Franklin Street and Barker Avenue at 1901 Franklin Street. A photograph of this building appears in the 1894 issue of the “Headlight, Chicago, which featured a number of Michigan City businesses. At this time we cannot document the building earlier than 1894. Some online sources suggest an 1890 date, but we have not found primary documentation confirming that year. One source we found online says 1861, but that is definitely not correct.
The directory listings in the late 1890s are inconsistent and create some confusion. In the 1896 directory, Grattenthaler Bros. is listed under saloons at 1901 Franklin Street. However, in the 1897-98 directory and again in 1899, the same address is listed instead as a saloon operated by Andrew Mentag, with no Grattenthaler saloon shown there. This suggests either directory errors or a temporary change in ownership.
There are no known directories for 1900 or 1901. The next listing is in 1902, when Henry Grattenthaler Jr. appears as a saloon owner at 1901 Franklin Street under his own name rather than Grattenthaler Bros. By then, Andrew Mentag is listed at a different Franklin Street address. Based on the available records, it appears the Grattenthaler Bros. partnership ended, Mentag operated the location for a short period, and Henry Jr. later resumed business there independently.
One more thing that may support the directories being correct is that Andrew Mentag is listed in the 1900 U.S. Census as a saloon keeper at 1901 Franklin Street. Confusing right?
After Henry Grattenthaler Jr. died in 1917, his wife Anna continued operating the business. In 1918, Indiana enacted statewide prohibition, banning the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages ahead of national Prohibition in 1920. After that point, the business is listed as a soft drink establishment into the early 1920s. By the 1923 directory, Henry Jr. and Anna’s son Raymond, along with Bert O’Brien, are listed with a soft drink business at the location.
After Grattenthaler, the location housed several other businesses from the late 1920s into the 1930s and 1940s; the last listing for Grattenthaler appears in the 1923–1925 directory (see the directories tab for more details). Around 1947 it became the Harmony Bar, which operated for many decades. The building was sold in 2024 and reopened in Sept. 2025 as The Cellar Door.
The Bottles
According to the December 15, 1905 issue of American Carbonator and American Bottler, Henry Grattenthaler entered into a partnership with the Ph. Zorn Brewing Co. and was erecting an addition to his building for a bottling works.
We have a pint bottle made by the American Bottle Co. that carries an S-12 date code. The American Bottle Co. used date codes on many of their bottles, such as S-6 for 1906 and S-12 for 1912. The letter S indicates the Streator plant, a marking used after the Streator Bottle and Glass Co. of Streator, Illinois became part of the American Bottle Co. in 1905.
Based on these markings, production of these bottles began no earlier than 1906 and continued until at least 1912. If you have examples with S-13 or later date codes, please let us know so we can document it.
The only known bottles from Grattenthaler all have the Zorn name on them, and they are hand tooled crown tops.
Henry A. Grattenthaler (1875—1917)
Son of Henry Grattenthaler Sr. (1834–1914) and Caroline (1839–1906). According to U.S. Census data, he was born in Indiana, while both of his parents were born in Germany. He is listed as a carpenter at 1901 Franklin in the 1900 U.S. Census and is recorded as the property owner, while Andrew Mentag is listed as the renter.
Again, the best sources we currently have are the city directories and census records, since they provide the most reliable factual information available. We try not to rely on verbal accounts without supporting documentation, because details and stories often change over the years. If you have additional information such as newspaper clippings, obituaries, or photos, please share them with us so we can better document this business.
We’ll be adding more photos and information as we find them, and we’ll post them on the updates page when we do.
1) The South Bend Tribune, May 16, 1911, p. 12
Loses Foot in Accident.
The Tribune’s Special Service.
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., May 16.—
John Bush, bartender in John Grattenthaler’s saloon, was maimed for life in an accident in the Pere Marquette railroad yards. His right foot was crushed and severed across the instep. With remarkable courage, the injured man crawled on his hands and knees to his home, two blocks away, just after the accident.
We’re covering much of the earlier Grattenthaler family and the 1901 Franklin Street history in this one.
Kramer’s City Directory of Michigan City.
1884-86 — Not listed.
Classified Directory of Michigan City, Indiana.
1890-91 — Grattenthaler Henry, carpenter, boards on the east side of Franklin Street, 2 houses south of Fulton Street.
John Grattenthaler, carpenter, residence the same as Henry.
Note: Not listed under saloons in this directory.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Michigan City, La Porte and La Porte County Directory.
1893-94 — Grattenthaler Bros. (John and Henry), Sample Room on the southwest corner of Franklin and Fulton.
Henry Grattenthaler (Grattenthaler Bros), home at the corner of Franklin and Allen. (This could be an error since Henry Jr. should be part of Grattenthaler Bros.)
Henry Grattenthaler Jr. Laborer, boards at the corner of Franklin and Allen.
John Grattenthaler (Grattenthaler Bros), home at 1808 Franklin.
Columbia Directory Co.’s La Porte County Directory
1896 — Grattenthaler Bros, (John A and Henry), saloon at 1901 Franklin.
John A. Grattenthaler, (Grattenthaler Bros), also councilman for 4th ward, home at 1901 Franklin.
Henry Grattenthaler Sr., contractor, 2006 Franklin.
Henry Grattenthaler Jr., (Grattenthaler Bros), home at 2006 Franklin.
Columbia Directory Co. – La Porte County Directory.
1897-98 — Grattenthaler John (Marta), carpenter, also a councilman for 4th ward, home at 228 May Ave.
Henry Grattenthaler Sr. (Carrie), carpenter, home at 2006 Franklin.
Henry Grattenthaler Jr. (Anna), carpenter, home at 1909 Franklin.
Mentag Andrew (Julia), wines and liquors, 1901 Franklin, home is same. (Listed under saloons) Double checked that it is 1901 Franklin in both his listing and the saloon listing.
La Porte County Directory Company’s Directory of La Porte County, IND.
1899 — Grattenthaler John (Marta), carpenter, home at 228 May Ave.
Henry Grattenthaler Sr. (Lena), carpenter, home at 2006 Franklin.
Henry Grattenthaler Jr. (Anna), carpenter, home at 116 Allen.
Mentag Andrew (Julia), saloon at 1901 Franklin, home is the same. Double checked that it is 1901 Franklin in both his listing and the saloon listing.
State Directory Co. — Michigan City Directory.
1902 — Grattenthaler John (Martha), carpenter, home at 1907 Washington.
Henry Sr. (Caroline), carpenter, contractor, home at 2006 Franklin.
Henry Jr. (Anna), saloon at 1901 Franklin, home is the same. (also listed under saloons).
Andrew Mentag is now listed at a saloon at 1401 Franklin in both his individual listing and under saloons.
State Directory Co. — Michigan City Directory.
1905 — Grattenthaler John A (Martha), carpenter, home at 110 Barker Ave.
Henry Sr. (Carrie), carpenter, home at 2006 S Franklin.
Henry Jr. (Anna), fine wines, liquors, cigars, etc. at 1901 Franklin, home is same.
The Inter-State Directory Co. — Michigan City Directory and LaPorte County Gazetteer.
1907 — Grattenthaler, Henry Jr. (Anna), sample room, home at 1901½ Franklin. (also listed under saloons)
Grattenthaler John (Martha), carpenter, home at 110 W Barker Ave.
Union Directory Co. — City Directory Michigan City
1909-1910 — Grattenthaler, Henry Jr., (Anna), saloon at 1901 Franklin, home is same, phone 372.
Henry Sr., contractor and builder, home at 2006 Franklin.
Smith’s Directory of Michigan City
1913 — Grattenthaler Henry Jr., saloon 1901 Franklin, residence 1901½ Franklin. (Anna)
Henry Sr., residence at 2006 Franklin.
Caron’s Directory Michigan City (published in 1916)
1916-17-18 — Grattenthaler Henry (Anna), saloon, 1901 Franklin.
Caron’s Directory Michigan City (published in 1919)
1919-20-21 — Grattenthaler Anna, soft drinks, 1901 Franklin. (Henry Died on December 18, 1917)
Caron’s Directory Michigan City (published in 1921)
1921-22-23 — Grattenthaler Anna, soft drinks, 1901 Franklin. (Raymond Grattenthaler is the clerk)
Caron’s Directory Michigan City (published in 1923)
1923-24-25 — O’Brien & Grattenthaler, 1901 Franklin (Soft Drinks). Raymond Grattenthaler & Bert O’Brien.
After this just covers the 1901 Franklin building only.
Caron’s Directory Michigan City (published in 1927)
1927-28 — Wienke M W soft drinks
Caron’s Directory Michigan City
1929-30 — Wienke M W soft drinks
Caron’s Directory Michigan City
1931-32 — Nawrocki E C soft drinks
Swasey-Rosenberg’s Michigan City Directory
1934-35 — Nawrocki Cafe
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1936-37 — Tulholski Feed Store & Hatchery
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1938-39 — Jahnz Frank restaurant
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1940-41 — Wiencek P J restaurant
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1942-43 — Wiencek P J restaurant
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1947 — Kmola Louis P restaurant
This is where researching old businesses can become confusing. The Harmony Bar is listed in the 1948 Michigan City phone book at 1901 Franklin, yet it does not appear in the city directories until 1956. This illustrates why city directories are not always fully reliable year by year. In our experience, phone books are often more accurate for pinpointing past businesses. However, many older phone books have not been digitized or made available online, unlike most Michigan City directories published before 1960, which can make this type of research especially challenging if you don’t have access to basically every year since some businesses only lasted a year or two. The old Harmony Bar sign read “Since 1947”.
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1949 — Hoffman Chas restaurant
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1952 — Hoffman Chas restaurant
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1954 — Hoffman Chas restaurant
Caron’s Michigan City Directory
1956 — Harmony Bar tavern
It was Harmony Bar for many years. It was sold in 2024, even though it had not been open for a few years, and reopened as The Cellar Door in Sept. 2025.
Bottle Type: Quart, hand-tooled crown top.
Embossing: H. GRATTENTHALER / BOTTLER / ZORN’S BEER / MICHIGAN CITY, IND.
Glass Maker: A B Co (on base), American Bottle Co.
Other Marks: 0-S (above heel).
Notes: 0-S is a 1910 date code. The S stands for Streator.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Pint, hand-tooled crown top.
Embossing: H. GRATTENTHALER / BOTTLER / ZORN’S BEER / MICHIGAN CITY, IND.
Glass Maker: A B Co (on base), American Bottle Co.
Other Marks: 6-S (above heel).
Notes: 6-S is a 1906 date code. We also have another example in a pint marked S-12, for 1912.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
