The Rathskeller Café

Help Out This Worty Cause Today!

Good Luck The The Chaffee Gang On Hosting The Annual Festival...

Helping Out A Friend FBF's

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DTDSXd1BK/

Hello FBF's!

Have A Great Time On The Celebration Of 250 Years!

Good Morning From The Carneval Family, Interstate Security and The Rathskeller Café .

Take Time To Remember Your Family, Friends and The Fallen Today...

Hello Friends Of The Rathskeller Café .

The current operator, Kim Finnegan aka KD'S PLACE Local Books & Arts is hosting summer time events on Sundays starting tomorrow. Help Support The continued development of her efforts...

As part of the plan, food trucks will be on site

Thanks!

"Coulda Shoulda Woulda - Part 2...

"Coulda" 2306 Building (The existing Rathskeller Building)
Some changes already mentioned having to do with bathrooms.
Staging area would undergo additional refurbishing to include in-house sound and lights.
Restructure corner near front door for gambling area, primarily skills type machines.
Extensive attention to detail on hi tech video screen infrastructure with continuous sports…The play of the day.
Invest in special software known in the industry as “Atmosphere” in order to produce subliminal messaging on amenities available at the venue
Since there would be a modify of the kitchen and the kitchen business and the primarily used area would be the 2302 side. The 2306 side would be primarily open later in the day and stay open until 2 AM.
Heavy emphasis on security and protection for patrons.
Continued experiment with karaoke, open mic nights and acoustic nights For Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
Live music featuring full bands Thursday, Friday Saturday.
NFL Football On Sundays

"Coulda" The Sundowner (The covered pavilion in the parking lot)
The sun downer proved to be a success during its primary part of the season... June to September.
A new Sundowner would have to be constructed to eliminate what was the existing tent type Structures, which were somewhat flimsy.
Because a heavy-duty bandstand would be constructed behind the 2302 building. The Sundowner bandstand may be able to be a smaller version
During the summer months there would be 2 shows.
The first show would kick off in the early evening at 7 PM. And feature top live music bands outside under the Sundowner.
The second show would be inside on the main stage. And it would start shortly after the end of the first show, and it would last until past 1 o'clock in the morning.
The bands in the second show would be more creative and pay Homage to original music.
During the fall and winter, the live music weekend events would be thinned to One night per weekend with bands scheduled who can deliver larger crowds.
Special shows on the night before Thanksgiving, New Years Eve, and St. Patrick's Day. But less emphasis during the winter months on live music because of lack of support from patron, plus poor weather plus competition from other venues.
Special note.
There may be a new generation of attention towards cover charges to help alleviate cost of the bands.

"Coulda" Shuttle
As part of The Rathskeller of the future, a shuttle service would be developed. So that patrons could park in a safe and secure parking area near the venue and then take a shuttle, which would be continuously running with several Shuttles Providing transport to the campus
The security parking area would include a small but handy bar in order to get your initial drink which you could then take with you on the shuttle.
The shuttles would include a security guard on each mission to provide safety and security to the riders. Under no circumstances would shenanigans be tolerated.

"Coulda" Staffing
With an unlimited budget available due to the stupid money that would be spent on this new and improved campus, special emphasis would have to be placed on proper staffing.
First, there is a reason why it is called Dope, and that would be the major criteria that would be used in locating effective staff. No Dopes Allowed
Because this is a high-profile operation. Drug use will be eliminated. In addition, smoking and drinking by the staff will also be eliminated.
Compensation will return to a traditional restaurant style model. Low hourly rate plus tips, which would be calculated utilizing the F**A tax credit
Because we'll have an unlimited budget at our disposal. Extensive security procedures will be put in place, which will include camera systems with operators on staff. Watching every move made by someone working in the venue. Theft will not be accepted.. If it is determined that staff are manipulating sales to benefit tips, law enforcement will be called in
The old-fashioned cash register with guest check and Tabs system will be eliminated in favor of a secure system. The staff will not have access at the end of a shift to cash tips to avoid manipulation of the tips in any way shape or form.
Cash tips will be distributed appropriately and will be counted towards income.
The staff will be wearing uniform shirts and slacks. Hot pants will no longer be acceptable. And torn tee shirts
Staff working in the kitchen will have to wear appropriate cooking attire and hairnets will be required. Kitchen associates will no longer be allowed to wear big hair. It will be tied up.

Staffing
Owner Group, Breakfast Manager, Lunch Manager, Dinner Manager, Bar Manager, Gaming Manager, Live Music Manager, Floor Manager, Provisioning Manager,

Multiple Cracker Jack Floor Workers To Serve Beverages and Food

Note: Upstairs Apartments converted to offices. Basement totally refurbished for break room.

Could A Road Blocks
Clubs
Competition from other bars.
Live music shows becoming too costly due to cost of band plus cost of sound and lights.
Limited avenues for promotion of live music shows.
Poor weather in fall and winter.
Economy woes.
Concerns by patrons on DUI
Aging patron base
Younger generations do not appear to enjoy tavern. Environment prefer dance clubs.
Possibility of future liabilities and fines due to P LC B regulations.
Health department compliance.
Employee theft
Employee poor relations amongst each other and theft of tips.
Providing complimentary drinks to bands.
Need for continued specials and drink reductions. In order to keep peace with patrons who can go to clubs and get a better price.

There isn't a day that goes by when we don't look back at all the great times that occurred during our most recent handle on running the bar known as The Rathskeller Café

It's certainly a "Coulda... Shoulda... Woulda" kind of a vibe...

It all starts with the templates that were used to develop the ambiance this time around...

Comparisons - National and Pop Culture
Rick’s Café American (Casablanca),
Bill Graham’s FillMore East,
CBGB, (New York City)
Whiskey A Go Go (Los Angeles)
Villipiano’s (Restaurant By Airport In “That Thing You Do” that served up pizzas)
Cheers (Every One Knew Your Name)
Delta House Fraternity
Roadhouse (Patrick Swazee Film)
Shandy Gaf (Penn State)
The All American Rathskeller (Penn State)
The Garage (Westfield NY)

Comparisons – Erie Based
Three D’s
Sherlocks / Park Place
The Alternative
Plymouth Tavern

In case you didn't know, since management has been around awhile... many of these venues served a integral part on development>

Now, a little about management. When the final days were upon us back in September of last year, we were not ready to shut down. Unfortunately, support had dwindled from key members of the committee and tensions were flaring so it was felt that closure was the paly of the day

We made efforts to locate a suitable buyer to keep the vibe alive but, we kept coming up shot on a developer

With that being said, consider this piece a what if the situations had heading on a different path... maybe the lottery would have been hit or something

Neighborhood development was occurring...
Red Roof Inn +
City Garage Coming To Old Miller Bros Facility
Existing Commercial Businesses Were Available For Patronage

Kitchen Business Development
Lunch Crowd From Above Sources
Side Walk Grille In Summer
Door Dash

Now a word about what "Coulda" happened at the building next door... 2302 State Street... if it had been decided to develop the bar to it's fullest potential

Extensive landscaping and land servicing would have to be accomplished behind the building in the vacant space.

This would include moving the west side earthworks further west to create additional space in the middle between the building and the earthworks.

Land servicing would include drainage retaining wall for the earthworks, sculpted patio within the earthworks, a totally brand new paved surface.

Extensive plumbing and electrical in order to accommodate bathrooms along with a service building for use as a bar.

A pavilion of some sort of a permanent nature to accommodate the bands.

A second pavilion to accommodate the patrons.

Security fencing to restrict access when not in use.

An elevated patio on top of the 2302 building to act as a party place above the regular crowd…

A large walk-in cooler / freezer / storage structure would have to be constructed as part of the infrastructure

Here is what "Coulda" happened with the 2302 Building...

Refurbishing of building would involve several changes.
Bathrooms would have to be designed
An area for a kitchen would have to be developed
A hallway would have to be constructed that would connect the 2302 building with the 2306 building near the existing lady's room in the 2306 building.
The men's room in the 2306 building would have to be eliminated so that a second hallway could be constructed between the existing bar area in the 2306 building and a new second bar area in the 2302 building.
The existing kitchen in the 2306 building would be refurbished as a lady's bathroom.
The existing lady's room bathroom in the 2306 building would be refurbished as a men's bathroom.
The 2302 building would be a space ideally suited for eating. Not necessarily fine dining, but all of the desired food groups
Sports bar food, Chicken Wings, barbecue type food similar to Federal Hill Smokehouse.
One night per week would be designated as Italian Night
Restaurant space would be open for breakfast lunch and dinner.
Late evening, a emphasis would be on takeout food for pizza and wings
Space will be created for a small stage area to accommodate acoustic style music.

More To come with next posting