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It would be interesting to learn who the "other investors" were. Anyway, my good buddy Oracle can still safely purchase mustard.
Herlochers Save Rathskeller Location From Wrecking Ball
In July 2017 our company Cornelius LLC concluded an investment in downtown State College with a plan to buy the Foster Building. While other investors intended to raze the property, we were steadfast in our commitment to preserve the historic nature and location of this landmark building.
When we took over the property we became aware that the operators of the All American Rathskeller and Spats had been operating without a lease since 2011 and paying well below market rates. Attempts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful. Our offer to purchase the businesses were also turned down.
We understand the concern many Penn Staters and State College natives have expressed. We want to assure you that as State College residents and Penn Staters we fully understand the historic importance of that location and memories made there across decades. We are committed to maintaining the character of the location that was founded in 1933 by Pop Flood as the Rathskeller and Gardens until 1934 when Doggie Alexander named it The All-American Rathskeller.
Our goal in the coming weeks and years is that Penn Staters past and present will walk into this location and find their memories of great times past still living there. The new tenants will be the latest in a long line of owners who have maintained the proud tradition of good times and good friends meeting in this downtown State College landmark.
Look for announcements soon from the new operators with their vision for this location.
Also we would like to alert current employees of the Rathskeller that the new operators are also interested in retaining staff.
Let's see what happens.
I personally would:
Im just the idea guy
- tear down the building
- excavate deeper such that the "new Skellar" would have taller ceilings and be "up to code"
- have a small hoagie/cheesesteak shop up front on College Ave.
- Install a couple of elevators and turn the back half of the 1st Floor and the entire 2nd floor be the new "Train Station"
- Make the 3rd/Top floor into the Release Valve Deck. And, it could be enclosed and rented out for "special occasions"
Let's see what happens.
I personally would:
Im just the idea guy
- tear down the building
- excavate deeper such that the "new Skellar" would have taller ceilings and be "up to code"
- have a small hoagie/cheesesteak shop up front on College Ave.
- Install a couple of elevators and turn the back half of the 1st Floor and the entire 2nd floor be the new "Train Station"
- Make the 3rd/Top floor into the Release Valve Deck. And, it could be enclosed and rented out for "special occasions"
They quit serving beer by the case years (decades?) ago. You can thank your local member of the bar association for that!!
You can get a box of rocks on friday nights...started up again a year or two ago.
I’m at least willing to give them the benefit of holding them accountable to their words beforeOnly you would actually believe that press release.
I think I will go open a bottle of RR under my Skeller table tonight. or just bang the cap off from above. good timesNot anymore.
After 85 years of serving State College residents and Penn State students, Rathskeller will soon close its doors for the final time.
Spat's Cafe, under the same owner Duke Gastiger, will also shut down, according to a release.
“It has been a great honor operating these two iconic establishments and serving this community and its many truly wonderful patrons and friends,” Gastiger said in a press release. “We are grateful for the loyalty that people-- including our incredible employees-- have shown us over the years. We most regret closing with such short notice, but it was unavoidable given the timeline dictated by the new property owners.”
Closing dates for both places have yet to be determined, and it's unclear what will replace both establishments.
The All-American Rathskeller, located on the corner of College Avenue and South Pugh Street opened three days after the prohibition was lifted in 1933, according to the press release. It is the longest continually operating bar in Pennsylvania.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/borough/article_f012dd92-d938-11e7-bafe-7f33188e240a.html
After 85 years of serving State College residents and Penn State students, Rathskeller will soon close its doors for the final time.
Spat's Cafe, under the same owner Duke Gastiger, will also shut down, according to a release.
“It has been a great honor operating these two iconic establishments and serving this community and its many truly wonderful patrons and friends,” Gastiger said in a press release. “We are grateful for the loyalty that people-- including our incredible employees-- have shown us over the years. We most regret closing with such short notice, but it was unavoidable given the timeline dictated by the new property owners.”
Closing dates for both places have yet to be determined, and it's unclear what will replace both establishments.
The All-American Rathskeller, located on the corner of College Avenue and South Pugh Street opened three days after the prohibition was lifted in 1933, according to the press release. It is the longest continually operating bar in Pennsylvania.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/borough/article_f012dd92-d938-11e7-bafe-7f33188e240a.html
This aggression will not stand, Man.
No. They appear to be "decent individuals".
I suspect the Skellar will survive, but under different operatorship.
Thanks for the comment. #GFYHow hard is it to read the article and learn it had nothing to do with the balance-sheet... #moron
I suspect that you are right about this.
Two Landmark Eateries to Close Doors in Downtown State College
After 85 and 30 years respectively, the All-American Rathskeller and Spats Café will be serving their last customers.
State College, Pa: The corner of College Avenue and South Pugh Street will no longer bear the distinctive Spats Café windows festooned with Mardi Gras beads, or the late-night lines that snaked around the block as people waited to join the fun in the “Skeller.” Restaurateurs Duke and Monica Gastiger have announced that their leases weren’t renewed by the new property owners, so they will be closing the highly regarded Spats Café and Speakeasy, along with the much loved and historic All-American Rathskeller, which opened just three days after prohibition was repealed in 1933. Although the final closing date hasn’t been set, both will serve their last customers in the coming weeks.
“It has been a great honor operating these two iconic establishments and serving this community and its many truly wonderful patrons and friends,” said Duke Gastiger. “We are grateful for the loyalty that people-- including our incredible employees-- have shown us over the years. We most regret closing with such short notice, but it was unavoidable given the timeline dictated by the new property owners.”
Neil and Chuck Herlocher bought the buildings under the name of Cornelius LLC as part of a real estate deal in June 2017. Although the Herlochers originally indicated that “business there will continue as usual,” plans inexplicably and suddenly changed. Prior to informing the Gastigers of this altered plan the Herlochers had already contracted with another entity for the leased spaces. The Gastigers were offered no recourse, thus resulting in the imminent business closures. More than 60 highly skilled workers will be looking for new employment.
Both restaurants have played a prominent role in the State College community for decades. The Rathskeller is the longest continually operating bar in Pennsylvania, and is filled with memories that have covered many lifetimes. Spats too is rich in history and character, offering State College residents and visitors a sophisticated taste of New Orleans. Both establishments were renowned for their exceptional service, value and unique atmosphere. The Gastigers requested that the Herlochers be open to allowing them time to sell the businesses with all the goodwill and community allegiance to new owners who could then negotiate new lease terms with them and keep the traditions alive. However, the Gastigers received no response from the Herlochers.
The Gastigers hope that over the next few weeks their customers will be able to share a dish, drink or memory, and celebrate the servers, bartenders and kitchen staff for their decades of fine work. They are also ready to offer recommendations to those looking to hire their talented staff.
“We have been blessed with a wonderful community of employees, patrons and friends, and we have not reached our final act,” said Duke. “With RE Farm Café at Windswept we have plans to take our innovative cooking and hospitality in a new direction with an exciting new restaurant concept for the area. We are focused on building community and regenerative business, and we have big plans for our next venture. Stay tuned!”
For more information, contact…..
Duke Gastiger: duke.gastiger@gmail.com
Monica Gastiger: monica.gastiger@gmail.com
"More than 60 highly skilled workers will be looking for new employment"
I mean... this just make it lose all credibility.
LdN
not the candlestick, bottle opener....Colonel Mustard in the basement with the candlestick.
I'm deeply conflicted about what the proper course of action would be in this hypothetical.We should chain some bot members to it so they can't tear it down.
No. I've gotta admit that it struck me as a firetrap. But they could have sprinklered it, or taken other measures to improve the fire safety there. It just seems like a huge waste to shut it down an institution that HAD to be making decent money. If they put in some kind of brand spankin' new bar, it will be a disaster in every way, and they surely know it.Herlochers paid 5.x million for the property. No way they were just going to collect rent at that price point. Can’t renovate without opening a can of worms on code. Think that basement passes code?
I find it hard to believe that was the case. I've handled a lot of real estate transactions over the last few decades, and I have yet to work on a sale of commercial real property where the seller did not provide the buyer with a "rent roll" (i.e., a listing of each tenant in the property, the duration of each tenant's lease, and the rent each tenant was paying). That's a bare minimum, since you're essentially buying a stream of income when you're buying commercial real property.Apparently the owner/realtor would not disclose how much rent the businesses or the students were paying each month prior to the sale.
I find it hard to believe that was the case. I've handled a lot of real estate transactions over the last few decades, and I have yet to work on a sale of commercial real property where the seller did not provide the buyer with a "rent roll" (i.e., a listing of each tenant in the property, the duration of each tenant's lease, and the rent each tenant was paying). That's a bare minimum, since you're essentially buying a stream of income when you're buying commercial real property.
While I've had my share of pony cases at the skeller when I was a poor student who couldn't afford good beer, I've never really seen the appeal for the place. Especially with the benefit of hindsight, why would I want to hang out and drink crappy beer in a cramped basement that's sticky, crowded, and smells of vomit and urine?
So I say tear it down, pour a lot of bleach in the hole, then build the Rathskeller HD.
"More than 60 highly skilled workers will be looking for new employment"
I mean... this just make it lose all credibility.
LdN
i don't think i missed a Mincer Happy Hour in 1987/88. Fridays and Wednesdays!Was anyone there with me most Friday nights for Chris Mincer Happy Hour and later on Queen Bee & The Blue Hornet Band from '86 to '90?
So many great nights filled with wonderful music, friends and many beers!
This clown is a well know d$ck - the real MM would not be happy with him using his name.Thanks for the comment. #GFY
Yeah Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are just dumps compared to PetCo Park. Just tear them all down and put up new ballparks. They're just garbage and offer nothing at all of historic, nostalgic, or sentimental value to millions of fans who spent their lives devoted to those teams, thereby making them successful franchises.
Yeah Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are just dumps compared to PetCo Park. Just tear them all down and put up new ballparks. They're just garbage and offer nothing at all of historic, nostalgic, or sentimental value to millions of fans who spent their lives devoted to those teams, thereby making them successful franchises.