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Ratskeller

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This article is about Ratskeller in general. For the live music venue in Boston, seeThe Rathskeller.
The Rathskeller inOlten,Switzerland

Ratskeller(German: "council'scellar",pl.Ratskeller,historicallyRathskeller) is a name inGerman-speaking countriesfor abarorrestaurantlocated in the basement of a city hall (Rathaus) or nearby. Manytaverns,nightclubs,bars and similar establishments throughout the world use the term.

Notable examples

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Germany

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The Bremen Ratskeller, c. 1900

TheBremen Ratskeller,erected in 1405, has one of the oldestwine cellarsin Germany and was a centre of the wine trade inBremen.

TheRatskellerinLübeckis one of the oldest in northern Germany, with parts dating from theRomanesqueera. The earliest documented use for wine storage dates from circa 1220.

North America

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The formerDas Deutsche Hausin Indianapolis, today known as the Athenaeum

TheAthenæum (Das Deutsche Haus)Ratskeller restaurant in Indianapolis, known as the Athenaeum, received historic landmark status and has servedBavarian cuisinesince 1894.[1]

TheCalifornia Hall(formerly Das Deutches Haus) was built in 1912 in San Francisco and had a Rathskeller restaurant in the basement.[2]

The Rathskellerin Boston was a famous rock and roll club from 1974 to 1997, a locus of Boston'salternative rockscene, hosting local bands likeThe CarsandPixiesas well as many other bands such asThe PoliceandMetallicabefore they achieved breakthrough fame.

TheMinnesota State Capitol,completed in 1905, contains a Rathskeller that was renovated in 2017. It contains 29 painted German mottoes and currently serves as a cafe.[3]

The Rathskeller & Gardens, inState College, Pennsylvania,adjacent to theUniversity Parkcampus ofPenn State University,was opened by State College resident, "Pop" Flood, three days after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.[4][5]In 1934, Flood sold to C.C. “Doggie” Alexander, who changed the name to "The All-American Rathskeller", the name that remained with the bar until it closed on January 28, 2018.[6]

Campus dining

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Manyuniversitiesand public institutions havepubsorstudent centerdining facilities located in repurposed basements. To market these nontraditional eating locations, many are termed "Ratskeller" or some variation thereof.

  • Binghamton University:The original SUNY rathskeller and often referred to as "The Rat".[citation needed]
  • Kent State University:KSU’s Rathskeller, shortened to “The Rat”, is in the basement of the student center, and has been active to varying degrees since the 1970s. It had a stage for live music and had served food and alcohol to students of age into the early 2000s.[7]
  • Boston College( "The Rat" )[8]
  • Colorado State University( "The Ramskeller" )[9]
  • Union College( "The Rathskeller", known as "Skeller" among students, located under The Old Chapel)[10]
  • University of North Carolina( "The Ram's Head Rathskeller", better known as "The Rat", opened in 1948 and closed in 2008)[11]
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison( "Der Rathskeller" )[12]
  • University at Buffalo(SUNY) had a facility called The Rathskeller[13]that served food, alcohol, and occasionally had live music. It was housed in Squire Hall, and closed for good when that building was renovated starting in 1982.
  • University of California, San Diego:Muir College had a facility called The Rathskeller[14]that served food and non-alcoholic drinks. It was housed in Muir Commons, but was later replaced by the El Mercado restaurant.
  • McMaster Universityhad a student pub called The Rathskeller for over thirty years, in the basement of The Refectory dining hall. It closed in the early 2000s and was replaced with a restaurant.[15]
  • University of Florida:Built in the 1960s, the Rathskeller was a dining hall, bar and concert venue. Irish rock groupU2played their second U.S. show at this venue to a crowd of over 700 attendees in 1981. UF PresidentStephen O'Connellworked in the dining hall as a youth. The venue closed in 1987 after a grease fire caused extensive damage.[16]
  • Florida Institute of Technology( "Rathskeller Eatery & Convenience Store", known as "The Rat" among students)[17][18]
  • Oberlin College(also known as "the Rat" )[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Rathskeller - History".Rathskeller.com.May 14, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2008.
  2. ^Selvin, Joel (1996).San Francisco: The Musical History Tour: A Guide to Over 200 of the Bay Area's Most Memorable Music Sites.Chronicle Books. p. 72.ISBN978-0-8118-1007-4.
  3. ^"Restoration of Capitol Rathskeller Reveals Long-Hidden Art".Minnesota Historical Society.Archived fromthe originalon 27 October 2014.Retrieved17 August2018.
  4. ^"The All-American Rathskeller".The All-American Rathskeller.Retrieved2023-11-23.
  5. ^"All-American Rathskeller - Centre County Encyclopedia of History & Culture".Retrieved2023-11-23.
  6. ^Gleiter, Sue (2018-01-28)."So long All-American Rathskeller: Revered State College bar closes after 85 years in business".pennlive.Retrieved2023-11-23.
  7. ^Clarke, Grace (September 19, 2022)."The Rat makes a comeback".KentWired.
  8. ^Czerwienski, Tim (2006)."Linden Lane - Changes at the Rat".Boston College.Archived fromthe originalon 4 April 2016.Retrieved11 May2021.
  9. ^"LSC Dining Services".Colorado State University.25 May 2004. Archived fromthe originalon 10 September 2006.Retrieved11 May2021.
  10. ^"Union College Hospitality".Union College.3 February 2022.
  11. ^Mann, Charly."The Rat (Ramshead Rathskeller)".ChapelHillMemories.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2010.Retrieved11 May2021.
  12. ^"Der Rathskeller » Wisconsin Union".University of Wisconsin–Madison.
  13. ^Medina, Estela (27 August 1978)."FSA clarifies its position on approval of license application".The Spectrum (University at Buffalo)(1978/09/27): 9.Retrieved11 May2021.
  14. ^"John Muir College Historic Resources Inventory & Preservation Plan"(PDF).University of California, San Diego.2008.Retrieved11 May2021.
  15. ^"Rathskeller to become diversity cafi".Daily News.McMaster University.11 February 2004.Retrieved11 May2021.
  16. ^"The Johnson Hall Fire of 1987".14 February 2017.
  17. ^"New Vegan Food Menus Arise on Campus".The Florida Tech Crimson.November 2016.Retrieved17 January2022.
  18. ^"Where Can I Eat?".Florida Institute of Technology.24 March 2016.Retrieved17 January2022.
  19. ^"Facilities: Rathskeller".Oberlin Collegeand Conservatory.24 October 2016.
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