The Student Prince (restaurant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Student Prince Cafe & Fort Restaurant |
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Fort Street façade of The Student Prince,
set up for valet parking |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1935 |
| Current owner(s) | Peter Picknelly, Andy Yee |
| Head chef | Zachary B. Shuman |
| Food type | German, American |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Street address | 8 Fort Street, Springfield, MA 01103 |
| Reservations | Yes |
| Other locations | "Wurst Haus", Northampton Seasonally at The Big E |
The Student Prince Cafe & The Fort Restaurant is a famous German restaurant. It opened in 1935 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Many people just call it The Student Prince.
This restaurant is known as a landmark in the city. It has served German food and beer for many years. In 2008, Gourmet magazine called it one of "20 Legendary American Restaurants."
Contents
A Look Back: The Restaurant's Story
The "Old Fort" Site
The restaurant stands where a very old building once was. This building was called the "Old Fort." It was the first brick building in Springfield, built in 1660.
During a war in 1675, this "Old Fort" was the only building that survived. It was a safe place for the town's people. They hid there while other homes were burned. The restaurant gets part of its name, "The Fort Restaurant," from this historic site.
How the Restaurant Started
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On September 24, 1935, a German immigrant named Paul Schoeder opened the Student Prince Cafe. He opened it in a former shoe store.
The restaurant was named after a popular play called The Student Prince. This play was very well-liked in Springfield at the time. Schoeder's first ad said the restaurant offered "a bit of the charm of the Old World." It served German food and deli items.
The restaurant quickly became a popular spot. Reporters and politicians often met there.
In 1946, Schoeder and his partner opened The Fort Dining Room. This new room had beautiful wood and stained glass windows. These windows showed scenes from The Student Prince play.
Over the years, the restaurant collected many items. It has over 1,000 beer steins and many bottle openers. These items decorate all the walls. The restaurant became so popular that it had to expand its kitchen five times!
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By the 1960s, the restaurant was famous. Many celebrities visited, like Lorne Greene from Bonanza and John F. Kennedy. Even the famous wrestler André the Giant ate there! He would often have two steins of beer and several full meals.
The Student Prince has hosted many fun events. These include Maifest, Oktoberfest, and Christmas caroling parties. Many graduations and weddings have also been held there.
Paul Schoeder passed away in 1948. Later, the restaurant was managed by Rupprecht Scherff. He started working there in 1949. Scherff was very involved in the community. He even started a program to train chefs.
In 1984, Springfield's mayor honored Rupprecht Scherff. He declared "Rupprecht Scherff Day." This celebrated Scherff living in the U.S. for 50 years after coming from Germany.
In 2010, the restaurant celebrated its 75th anniversary. It was a big party with music and food.
A Brief Closing and Reopening
In the late 1990s and 2000s, the restaurant faced some challenges. Business slowed down. In June 2014, the restaurant closed for a short time.
Then, two local businessmen, Peter Picknelly and Andy Yee, bought the restaurant. They worked with the Scherff family. The family agreed to let the new owners run the restaurant. They also agreed to rent their collection of steins and stained glass to the restaurant for a small fee.
The menu was updated. Some traditional dishes stayed, and new options like salads were added. After big renovations, the restaurant reopened on November 26, 2014.
Awards and Recognition
Over the years, The Student Prince has been featured in many publications. These include The New York Times and The Boston Globe. A food critic from the Globe called it "among the best in the state."
In 2008, Gourmet magazine listed The Student Prince as one of "20 Legendary American Restaurants." The magazine's staff spent a year finding restaurants that had "stood the test of time." The Student Prince was on this special list with other famous places.
The next year, the restaurant's bar was also recognized. It was named among the "world's great bars" by Lonely Planet. In 2014, Thrillist travel website also featured it.
