The Gastigers owned Skeller and Spats for more than 30 years. Their last call was bittersweet

It’s not easy to say good-bye, but Duke and Monica Gastiger have been doing it a lot lately.

After more than 30 years of pouring drinks, decades of greeting customers and a lifetime of making new friends, their run has finally come to an end at the Rathskeller and Spats Cafe & Speakeasy.

The Gastigers said they don’t want to go, but they’re finding closure in their last moments with longtime customers and employees. Their time operating the bar and restaurant — though their lease runs until Feb. 28 — has come to an end, a sobering reality that hit Saturday morning.

“I cried after Duke left this morning saying, ‘This is my last day of work,’” Monica Gastiger said. “He has always cared for the Skeller with a sense of responsibility to ensure it is still home. Spats was his creation, and he’s always been at the helm of its evolution, setting high standards.”

There’s something about the Rathskeller that has drawn people to that building’s basement for the better part of the last century. Just saying that it’s a tradition doesn’t seem to do the longest-running bar in State College justice.

The Gastigers, who bought the bar with Eddie Hill in 1988, also introduced Spats upstairs. The restaurant has served as an upscale eatery with a focus on traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine. They announced in December that the bar and restaurant would be closed.

“We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love we’ve experienced over the years, and the recent intensely heartfelt support of the community is a testament to what so many people believe is truly important,” the Gastigers said in a joint email. “Our customers are part of an extended family at Spats and the Rathskeller. When people are in town for an event, they stop at the Skeller, because it’s their home. Spats customers have memories of special occasions like anniversaries, interviews and proposals and they come back to celebrate and make new memories.”

Todd Erdley made reservations for Spats’ last call a month in advance and called the restaurant a “part of his family.”

Spats was supposed to be closed ahead of Erdley’s son’s wedding in 2013. The Gastigers opened the eatery just for his son’s and daughter-in-law’s rehearsal dinner on the Fourth of July.

“They closed down and deserved a day off, but they heard we wanted to do a rehearsal dinner there and opened just for us,” Erdley said. “We walked in there, and it was all set up. They decorated it, they had staff we knew, it was Duke cooking. It was an amazing event, and I feel truly blessed they did that for us.”

Jim Zuck, Mike Maggio and his family won’t forget their past experiences at the Skeller, either — even if they had possibly their last call there Saturday afternoon.

Maggio and Zuck worked together for the Gastigers in the 1980s and became best friends. Maggio can still fondly remember when he and his wife took their daughters to the bar for their 21st birthdays.

Both Maggio and Zuck hope a deal with the new tenants could be worked out to keep the Rathskeller name the same at the bar.

“It’s the atmosphere here that’s amazing, a staple of the community,” Maggio said. “I’d love if it could stay the Skeller. There’s too much history for it to go away. I just keep thinking that this can’t be the end of the Skeller.”

The Gastigers will take the principles that made Skeller and Spats successful to Re Farm Cafe in Patton Township, but will miss meeting people at their downtown establishments.

“Re Farm Cafe has been an adventure on a windy road with unexpected turns that teach us along the way,” the Gastigers said. “We are beyond excited about Windswept Farm and the soon-to-break-ground Re Farm Cafe. Weather dependent, we hope to open this coming summer. Re Farm Cafe at Windswept will enhance the quality of life for our community by continually offering innovative learning exchanges for all ages focusing on a healthy, regenerative, local food system manifesting in unique fooding experiences.”

Focusing on their next venture, though, will have to wait for at least one more day.

Spats manager Janice Gainer, who has worked at the restaurant for about 20 years, will join current and former employees and the Gastigers on Sunday for a private party in Skeller and Spats.

“I’m honored to be here today, and we’re all hanging in there together and going down with the ship together,” Gainer said Saturday. “It’s brought us even closer, and it’s unfortunate we are closing, but it’s nice to be together on our last day.”

This story was originally published January 27, 2018 at 9:20 PM with the headline "The Gastigers owned Skeller and Spats for more than 30 years. Their last call was bittersweet."