In 1952, Al Thome & Emmy Werner were married in her hometown of ​Offenbach, Germany. The two met while Al was stationed in Germany ​serving in the U.S. Military. The couple lived in Germany during the ​early years of their marriage. During that time, Emmy and her mother ​taught Al how to cook authentic German cuisine using her mother’s ​family recipes. In 1960, the couple eventually ended up in Fort Smith, ​Arkansas. They soon realized there was an opportunity to open their ​own restaurant and bring a little bit of Emmy’s heritage to the area. ​At the time, there were no German restaurants in Fort Smith.

In 1961 the couple opened their first Bavarian-style restaurant in a ​small building near downtown Fort Smith and named it “Zum ​Deutschen Eck” {translation:The German Corner}. Later, they moved ​to an old Victorian style home on North 16th Street and changed the ​name to Emmy’s German Restaurant and began a Fort Smith tradition ​that has lasted over 60 years. We moved to our current location in ​April 2009 after an extensive renovation to the former Central ​Methodist Church.

Today the new owner, Joe Caldarera, continues the tradition of ​warm German hospitality that Emmy and Al enjoyed providing to ​their friends and loyal customers. His pledge is to continue serving ​you the finest in old-fashioned German fare, while always honoring ​the tradition that Al and Emmy began over 60 years ago.

Emmy's German Restaurant