The Rathskeller
Address: 38 E Ramona Ave. (Same address as Edelweiss)
Date Opened: 1967
Date Closed: May, 1980
Founder: Erich Guendl
Edelweiss, a German restaurant, opened in 1967 at 38 E Ramona Ave., the site of an old school house. It's first owner was Erich Guendl.
In June, 1968, Edelweiss was approved to expand its facilities and received a three way liquor license after a "stormy public hearing." The Rathskeller opened in August of that year.
A suit of armor that was at the front of the Rathskeller.
The Rathskeller was put in the charge of Danny Mientka and Mazurak. Mientka was the manager of the space, and Mazurak served as host and musician. The space could hold 80 people, with a separate room that could host private parties up to ten people.
In October, 1968, the Young Adult Project hosted a meeting in the Rathskellar.
The Rathskeller was open 4pm-2pm every day except Sundays. Mazurak would play the organ, accordion, for five days of the week, with featured entertainment Fridays and Saturdays.
"We want to keep the element of spontaneity intact...We want people to come in and find the unexpected in addition to the expected relaxing atmosphere we've strived for."
"A 17-year veteran of the Restaurant and Bar business, Mientka worked the Mayflower Hotel in Washingtn D.C., the "Normandy Farms," a wellknown French restaurant in Potomac, Md., and the Houston Memorial Drive Country Club before coming to Colorado Springs 14 years ago."
The Rathskellar was site of the first drag show and early drag culture in Colorado Springs, according to Dawn Collier. [2] Another site of early drag culture also mentioned in Dawn's article is The Purple Cow.
In the May 16, 1980 issue of The Gazette, there is an announcement that the Rathskeller would be closing to make way for a new wine bar, and given a new non-German theme. [3]
Community Reception
References
Anderson, Ronnie, editor. International Guild Guide 1971 Gay Listing. Vol. 8, Guild Press Ltd., 1971. Archives of Sexuality and Gender, link.gale.com/apps/doc/AAFDZU051544163/AHSI?u=northwestern&sid=bookmark-AHSI&xid=cc2bd4be&pg=6. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026. ↩︎
Collier, Dawn. “A Dialogue with Causha: FEMINISM vs. FEMALE IMPERSONATION.” OUT FRONT, 11 June 1976. Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection, https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=OTF19760611-01.2.10. Accessed 13AD. ↩︎
Colorado Springs Gazette (Colorado Springs, CO). “Edelweiss Opens Wine Cellar.” May 16, 1980. Newspaper Archive. https://access-newspaperarchive-com.ppld.idm.oclc.org/us/colorado/colorado-springs/colorado-springs-gazette/1980/05-16/page-48. ↩︎