On the Clock, 4301 S. Howell
Formerly called Huelsbeck's Sample Room, Krueger's, Roberts, Off the Clock, and most recently, On the Clock
By Mike L. Garvey GDNA Historical Committee
In 1903, the Milwaukee Streetcar line ended at the intersection of Howell and Bolivar Avenues. At the southwest corner of that intersection the Roman O. Huelsbeck family built a tavern they named Huelsbeck's Sample Room. They also developed a garden and dance hall on the other corner to compete for some of the recreational trade that Captain Saveland already created a half mile away in the Tippecanoe area with a dance hall and pond.
The garden and dance hall were soon closed, and the land subdivided into housing as the tavern became well established. When Prohibition ended in 1936, Roman Huelsbeck's son Charles rebuilt the exterior of the building creating the Tudor Revival style building, which we still see today, including the Gumwood trimmed interior and leaded glass that includes the front door initial, "H" for Huelsbeck.
Illustration from a napkin when the establishment was named Roberts
The Huelsbecks operated the business until 1965, when they sold it to Roland and June Krueger who were proprietors of the business for thirteen years. Using their family kitchen, they cooked and prepared sandwiches for Friday and Saturday lunches.
The third owners of the business are Robert and Linda Krause who bought the business in 1978 and named it Roberts. Since then, renovations continued like the kitchen and side-room. Remodeling continued in 2006; a much larger kitchen was built and a back room for which more gumwood was imported from South America.
For a couple of years prior to 2013, Krause changed the name of the restaurant to Off the Clock and leased the space to other restaurateurs. In 2013 Krause took over the operations again and changed the name to On the Clock. The restaurant is notable for its Reuben and pork chop sandwiches, a variety of one-half pound sandwiches, as well as chicken wings and make your own pizzas.