Damon’s Out, Rathskeller In

July 22, 2009Print-Friendly Version

By Dave Andrews

The Rat is back – and it has nothing to do with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or Sammy Davis Jr.

After more than a decade-long hiatus, the Mason Rathskeller is moving back to Student Union Building I (SUB I). The sports bar, fondly known as the Rat, made its debut on campus back in 1988, but its popularity dwindled when the Johnson Center opened its doors in 1996. The Rat was later converted into what is now the game room in SUB I.

But a college campus just doesn’t seem complete without a good, old-fashioned sports bar. Damon’s, which was open from 2005 until this past spring, was an effort to bring it back, but Mason Dining officials acknowledge the concept was not wholly successful. They decided to keep the basic Damon’s appearance, but take the operation in a new direction.

By late August, the former Damon’s space will have gotten a slight makeover and re-emerge as the Rat. The restaurant will still boast 12 big-screen TVs, music and a good-sized selection of beer and wine. Eventually, the bar plans to double the current on-tap beer offerings from five to 10.

But the dining concept will change slightly to appeal more to student-aged customers while lowering costs and wait time. Food will be ordered and paid for at a front counter. Then, servers will bring the food out to customers’ tables.

“To get our customers their food as quickly as possible while still providing the same high-quality product, we’re trimming down the menu just a bit,” says Denise Ammaccapane, resident district manager for Mason Dining. “The menu still has a wide variety of options and, of course, all of our most popular items will still be there.”

By dropping the Damon’s brand, Mason can change up the menu whenever and with whatever it wants.

“With Damon’s being a nationwide brand, we had to use their menu with no wiggle room at all,” Ammaccapane says. “At the Rathskeller, we’ll be able to do our own specials and work together with Athletics and intramural sports, for example, to do various promotions.”

Despite Damon’s modest success on weekdays, it never met its full potential in the evenings and especially on weekends, Ammaccapane says.

“I’m confident that the Rathskeller will get a great reception here at Mason,” Ammaccapane says. “It affords us many new opportunities to work with Athletics and [the Office of] Student Activities, while at the same time it enhances campus night life.”

Burrito del Rey will take over the space left open by Damon’s Express. Ammaccapane compares the menu to Baja Fresh, a popular Mexican fast-food chain. Food will be made to order with fresh ingredients right in front of the customer. The menu will be smaller to increase the speed of service while still maintaining quality.

18 Responses

  1. Bob V, says on:
    July 22, 2009 at 10:54 am

    Great news to hear The Rat is back! I used to hang there in the late 1980’s. Hope they can put pizza on the menu.

  2. Ryan B. says on:
    July 22, 2009 at 11:29 am

    Visited campus last weekend, first time in many years, and couldn’t believe the Rat was gone, replaced by an Arcade (don’t students all have XBoxes and PlayStations these days?).

    The return of the Rat is great news. I attended Mason in 1992, 93 and 94, and everyone met there for lunch and, perhaps a beer or two… The Johnson Center doesn’t have anything close to this, so I hope it does well.

    But, to ensure the Rat realizes its full, former glory, the management must do one crucial thing: put Max back in charge.

  3. will r says on:
    July 22, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    as a staff member, i’m very excited about the new dining options in Sub I :)

  4. Jim says on:
    July 23, 2009 at 9:32 am

    The main problem with Damon’s was its early closing time on weekends. I planned on going there last year to watch a televised Mason men’s basketball game, but Damon’s would have been closed by halftime. I hope the Rat will remain open later.

  5. Lisa says on:
    August 4, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    I’m sooooooo excited about the Rat.

  6. Kelly C says on:
    August 17, 2009 at 9:57 am

    I attended GMU from 91-95 and the Rat was an institution in itself! I was in the Rat almost every day for lunch or hanging out in between classes. It was a sad day when they closed it (thankfully it was after I graduated). So glad to hear it making a comeback (though I agree with Ryan B that the only way to return the Rat to its “full, former glory” is to bring back Max … Max was the Rat :-)

  7. Shamu says on:
    August 17, 2009 at 10:38 am

    I can’t believe the Rat is back. I can say for sure my GPA would have been higher if not for the Rat. It was the place to be seen. Max is working at the Noodles and Company, we have to bring him back!

  8. Kellye A. says on:
    August 17, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    Bring MAX BACK!!!!!!!

  9. Michael Galvin says on:
    August 17, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    what Noodles and Company does “Big Max” work at?

  10. Pamela Muller (Burden) says on:
    August 17, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    Oh wow the Rathskeller brings back so many good memories…and in agreement…pizza and beer was a staple there!

  11. Julie G. says on:
    August 19, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    The Rat did not debut in 1988…I am a ‘82 grad and we spent many nights there in the late 70’s. Wish I could remember some of them! Bring back the real Mason Day while you are at it. The one King Distributors sponsored. Good times.

  12. Josh Oxley says on:
    August 19, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    Have to say I’m glad to see this change, even after leaving the area. Damon’s was a good concept, but it wasn’t Mason-ish. Wonderful idea to bring the Rat back.

  13. JohnH says on:
    August 19, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    I remember the original Rat back in the late 70’s, early 80’s, back before the drinking age was raised to 21. That place rocked.

  14. Tobi M says on:
    August 20, 2009 at 7:01 am

    Hooray that the Rat is coming back!!!

  15. RW says on:
    August 20, 2009 at 8:51 am

    In the early 90’s, the Rat was Mason–and Max was the Rat. You have to bring back Max, and the real Rat pizza (not the stuff at they serve at JC or Southside now!)

  16. Andrew says on:
    August 20, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    The Rat hosted Ladies Night Thursdays in the 80s. Huge party. Great way to kick off the weekend – in the days when the weekend started Thurs night. The Rat also had live music from time to time. I remember seeing Matt Guitar Murphy from the Blues Brothers and the Church. Agree w Julie G’s about Mason Day and w Julie G and JohnH that the Rat was open well before 1988.

  17. Leslie says on:
    August 21, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    I was at Mason from ‘91-’95 and a Friday afternoon was not complete without a stop at the Rat for a slice (no beer, was too young to drink!) and a smile and chat with Max. Bring it all back–the current Mason crowd does not know what it is missing!

  18. Dave '86 says on:
    August 25, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    The Rat was alive and THE place to hang during my time at GMU..’81-’86…yep 5 years…too much time in the RAT! But they were the best times for me and my SigEp brothers!

    Glad to hear The Rat is Back!

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