The "'The Village' Is Ending Another Chapter In It's Storied Life" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about one of my favorite hangouts in downtown Lancaster when I turned 21 and was legally able to visit bars and nightclubs in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Perhaps my favorite was a nightclub called The Village which in the 1960s was located at the corner of East Chestnut St. and North Christian St in downtown Lancaster.  My friend Terry and I would head to The Village on Friday evenings after we had finished our work shift at the Acme Supermarket which was located at the Manor Shopping Center on the West side of Lancaster.  The store closed at 10:00 PM and by 10:30 we were usually sitting at the bar.  The Lancaster Newspaper's story told about the founding of the bar as well as some of the bands, both local as well as national, that played at the bar over the lifetime of the bar.  Terry and I enjoyed a drink or two as well as listening to some of the musicians that played on the stage of the bar, but our most favorite entertainment at The Village was a Go-Go dancer known as Daisy Mae.  She usually danced on stage over the weekend and usually danced to the sound of "The Sharks".  If I remember correctly, Terry knew her from High School and when she danced, she had to bring her mother along to the bar, since she wasn't 21 at the time and needed to have an adult with her when she performed.  When she took breaks throughout the evening, Terry always had me go with him to visit with Daisy and her mother where they sat between dances.  The Village opened their doors in 1953 and was situated in downtown Lancaster on a half-acre property.  The place was close to 10,000 square feet in size and had three bars, several seating areas and a dance floor.  Most times we would have a chance to see and hear local bands, but a few times we heard more well-known bands.  One night Bruce Springsteen showed up at the bar, but I must admit, I wasn't at the place at the time. The Village still attracts crowds, but a half-block to the North than where it was when I was a visitor.  And now, in today's newspaper, I read that the long time owners have decided it is time to call it quits.  The Village is for sale for $1.95 million.  The current co-owners, John Patounas and his daughter now manage the nightclub.  They all want to be able to spend more time with their families.  The Village actually was a Pennsylvania Dutch Restaurant called The German Village.  It shortened it's name and in 1971 had to move a half-block away, behind the local police department, due to a large parking garage being built in downtown Lancaster.  The place still draws a crowd, usually with a DJ who takes charge of the music.  The pandemic did close the place for almost 18 months, but it has now reopened.  Today's Village features a 9,300 square-foot club with three bars, a seating area and a dance floor.  The younger crowd, such as Terry and I were back in the 1960's, is hoping that someone will buy The Village and continue to supply some well-known bands for them to visit and enjoy.  I'm sure I would have felt the same had The Village been for sale during my early lifetime.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.