# O&H DANISH BAKERY **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2020-02-25 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2020/02/25/o-and-h-danish-bakery --- ## Analysis A Pinball News article from February 2020 featuring O&H Danish Bakery, a famous Scandinavian bakery in Racine, Wisconsin with a satellite location at Willkomm's Travel Center on I-94. The article traces the bakery's history and describes its arcade game room, which houses three Stern pinball machines (Star Trek Pro, The Walking Dead Pro, Game of Thrones Pro) alongside video games and pusher games. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] O&H Danish Bakery was established in the early 1940s but had been baking for at least a generation prior — _Direct statement in article about bakery founding_ - [HIGH] Each Kringle at O&H takes 3 days for bakers to make — _Stated explicitly in article about production process_ - [MEDIUM] Willkomm's Travel Center added coin-operated arcades in the 1970s — _Article states 'In the 1970s the travel centers added coin-operated Arcades' but is general statement about travel centers_ - [MEDIUM] Star Trek Pro at Willkomm's had an overly sensitive tilt issue that has been resolved — _Article notes 'a prior problem with an overly sensitive tilt on GOT seems to have been resolved' (note: states GOT, not Star Trek)_ ### Notable Quotes > "There is nothing quite as comforting as a slice of delicious Kringle and a cup of hot coffee." > — **Olesen family saying**, article epigraph > _Captures the bakery's brand identity and appeal_ > "So, you might ask, what does all of this have to do with pinball? Just a bit more patience from our readers and I will explain it to you." > — **Article author**, mid-article transition > _Meta-commentary acknowledging the bridge between bakery history and pinball content_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | O&H Danish Bakery | company | Famous bakery in Racine, Wisconsin established in early 1940s, known for Kringle pastries | | Willkomm's Travel Center | location | Travel center at I-94 and Route 20 (exit 333) in Racine, WI, hosts O&H satellite location and arcade with pinball machines | | Racine, Wisconsin | location | City founded 1834, home to O&H Danish Bakery and Willkomm's Travel Center | | Olesen family | person | Family credited with establishing O&H Danish Bakery and bringing Kringle to Wisconsin; the 'O' in O&H | | Star Trek Pro | game | Stern pinball machine from 2013 located at Willkomm's | | The Walking Dead Pro | game | Stern pinball machine from 2014 located at Willkomm's | | Game of Thrones Pro | game | Stern pinball machine from 2017 located at Willkomm's; had prior tilt sensitivity issue | | Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of the three pinball machines at this location | | Frank Lloyd Wright | person | Architect who designed S.C. Johnson administration and research complex in Racine, associated with Scandinavian immigration influx | | S.C. Johnson | company | Company whose Wright-designed complex in Racine drew Scandinavian immigrant workers | ### Topics - **Primary:** Pinball machine location/venue, Stern Pinball machines (Star Trek, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones), O&H Danish Bakery history and operations - **Secondary:** Travel center arcades and coin-operated entertainment, Wisconsin regional history and culture, Arcade game lineup (video games, pusher games) ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.82) — Article is promotional and appreciative toward both the bakery and arcade venue; presents games and location as attractive tourist/traveler destination --- ## Transcript **Date:** February 2020 **Location:**Willkomm’s Travel Center, I-94 and Route 20, Racine, WI, USA “*There is nothing quite as comforting as a slice of delicious Kringle and a cup of hot coffee.*” – Olesen family saying. About 20-or-so miles north of the state line between Illinois and Wisconsin, and 22 miles south of Milwaukee is the town of Racine. Racine was founded in 1834 as *Port Gilbert* but the name never was popular with the residents. In 1836 the town name was changed to Racine which is a French word for the nearby Root River. With the establishment of the Matt Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings of the S.C. Johnson administration and research complex, there came an influx of Scandinavian immigrants to the area. Part of the heritage these Scandinavians brought to the so-called New World was the range of tempting baked goods for which the Danes are well-known. Easily the most famous bakery in the Racine area, if not the entire Great Lakes region, is the O&H Danish Bakery. It was established in the early 1940s, but they had been baking tasty treats for at least a generation prior to that. [![O&H Danish Bakery](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/06-o-and-h-racine-1024x736.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/06-o-and-h-racine.jpg) O&H Danish Bakery The ‘O’ in O&H is the Olesen family, and they are credited with bringing the Danish Kringle treat to Wisconsin. The Kringle is scratch-made at O&H and is available with 21 fillings, including the popular apple and cherry as well as less well-known fillings such as Mediterranean Apricot and Tiramisu. Each Kringle takes 3 days for O&H’s bakers to make. [![O&H's Kringle](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/11-o-and-h-racine-1024x539.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/11-o-and-h-racine.jpg) O&H’s Kringle [![The raspberry and the pecan Kringle](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/08-o-and-h-racine-1024x539.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/08-o-and-h-racine.jpg) The raspberry and the pecan Kringle O&H features Gokstad premium coffee named after the 9th century Viking longship. The coffee beans are roasted right in Racine for best freshness, and I can assure you that this coffee hits the spot! [![More than just Kringles](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/07-o-and-h-racine-768x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/07-o-and-h-racine.jpg) More than just Kringles The Washington Avenue bakery location (from which all of the tasty goodness originates) is hard to miss with the replica Viking longship out front! [![O&H's Washington Avenue location](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/12-o-and-h-racine-1024x621.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/12-o-and-h-racine.jpg) O&H’s Washington Avenue location So, you might ask, what does all of this have to do with pinball? Just a bit more patience from our readers and I will explain it to you. O&H Danish Bakeries had several locations in the town of Racine and became somewhat of a tourist destination where people on Wisconsin holidays would buy Kringle or other baked goods to take home with them. O&H wisely established satellite sales locations along Interstate Highway 94. Not only could tourists stop and sample O&H’s delicacies, but these satellite locations became popular with long-distance truckers who would buy a slice of Kringle, or a Danish pastry and a cup of coffee ‘to go’. In the late 1950s and early 1960s the O&H Bakery locations along I-94 became part of large Travel Centers. Such things as petrol, diesel, sit down dining, grocery and sundries, laundry, medical clinic (including a Chiropractor), his and hers salon, showers, and even a chapel were part of these roadside centers. In the 1970s the travel centers added coin-operated Arcades to the list of their attractions and here is where our story begins in earnest. One of the O&H bakery satellites is located inside Willkomm’s (Dutch for ‘welcome’) travel center. It can be found at the intersection of I-94 and State Route 20 at exit 333. They have a well-equipped game room with video games, ‘pusher’ games of skill/chance and, yes, pinball. [![The three pinballs at O&H Danish Bakery](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/01-o-and-h-racine-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/01-o-and-h-racine.jpg) The three pinballs at O&H Danish Bakery The current pinball line up at Willkomm’s includes *Star Trek* Pro (Stern, 2013), *The Walking Dead* Pro (Stern, 2014) and *Game of Thrones* Pro (Stern, 2017) . It would appear as though the games have been cleaned and serviced recently, and a prior problem with an overly sensitive tilt on GOT seems to have been resolved. Prices are the usual $1/game or $2/3 games. There is a change machine nearby for quarters, and the travel store will break large bills for you if need be. Other games in the arcade area include a stand-up *Multicade*, *Super Bikes 3*, *Daytona Championship USA*, *Golden Tee 2016*, and the aforementioned bank of six *Jack’s Hi* ‘pusher’ semi-gambling games. [![Super Bikes 3 from Raw Thrills](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/10-o-and-h-racine-737x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/10-o-and-h-racine.jpg) Super Bikes 3 from Raw Thrills [![A Sega Daytona Championship USA](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/03-o-and-h-racine-768x1024.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/03-o-and-h-racine.jpg) A Sega Daytona Championship USA [![A six-player Jack's Hi Pusher by Coastal Amusements](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/09-o-and-h-racine-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/o-and-h-racine/09-o-and-h-racine.jpg) A six-player Jack’s Hi Pusher by Coastal Amusements So, in summary, we have at this site the lure of a Danish bakery serving as the come-on for a coin-op amusement arcade for tourists and professional drivers. Why not check it out if you are in the area? If the games don’t suit you, I am certain that the baked goods will. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 32438922-ca98-4ccc-8afc-04bf58b9ed7e*