BUILDING BLOCKS: Tom’s Drive In nears completion in Fond du Lac

ADDRESS: 876 E. Johnson St., Fond du Lac

SIZE: 4,000 square feet

COST: Undisclosed

START MONTH: December 2026

COMPLETION: July 10, 2026

OWNER: Tomsons of Appleton LLC, Scot Grishaber

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Keller, Inc.

LEAD ARCHITECT: ACS, Inc.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Integrity Engineering

SIGNIFICANCE: An anticipated chain restaurant is nearing completion in Fond du Lac.

Kaukauna-based construction and design firm Keller Inc. and ACS, Inc. built a 4,000-square-foot restaurant at 876 E. Johnson St. for Appleton-based Tom’s Drive In.

A ribbon-cutting will be held on July 13, and the first 100 customers will receive a free swag bag.

The first Tom’s Drive In opened in Appleton in 1960. The family-owned business started as a single drive-in serving hamburgers, milkshakes and fries.

Previously, the Johnson Street address was empty for at least three years. Previously, it was home of Yang Kitchen Buffet before the location was demolished. In the 2000s, it was a combination of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut.

Tom’s Drive In has at least ten locations in northeast Wisconsin, including around five locations in Appleton and around two locations in Sheboygan. Additional locations include Neenah, Menasha and Little Chute.