Quaint is the perfect word one can use to describe the charming town of St. Donatus, nestled on Highway 52 between Dubuque and Bellevue. Amidst breathtaking scenery, this tiny dot on a map is known for its status as a Luxembourg Village- having a large population of immigrant settlers from the Luxembourg Village in Germany, the Gehlem Barn- the oldest barn still standing in the state of Iowa, and Kalmes Restaurant- a popular destination for over 100 years.
Back in the early 1850s, Peter Kalmes used the tiny village as the birthplace of a small bar in a pebble stone building across the street from what is now Kalmes Bar. In 1933 Theo and Stella Kalmes adapted the business when they purchased the land to build a small bar and gas station, becoming the current location of the restaurant today. A few years later in 1942, the grocery store and living quarters were added. Windy and Helen Kalmes bought the business in 1956 and later added the dining room in 1982, followed by the addition of the Luxembourg Dining Room in 1995.
The restaurant pays homage to its Luxembourg roots and the people of the surrounding village, with its nostalgic décor of old photographs and vintage charm. History and family roots run deep in this business, as is evident with the traditions that still live within its walls. Currently, Kalmes Restaurant is owned and operated by the fourth generation Jim and Lori Kalmes, Brian and Barb Kalmes, and Jodi and Willie Hingtgen. Jimmy Jr. is the fifth generation Kalmes in the business, running the ins and outs of the catering side of the restaurant.
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