CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – An iconic Clarion establishment is on the market.

(Pictured above: Nancy and Jeff Ganoe. They have run The Tavern for several decades in Clarion.)

The Tavern, a family-run business on West Main Street, has been run by the Ganoes for more than 50 years.

It was Ash Wednesday, on February 27, in 1963, when brothers Ed and Dick Ganoe opened The Tavern. Their partnership lasted about 30 years. In 1979, they built onto the original establishment which had been a boarding house.

“Many think the original bar burned down, but it did not,” said Jeff Ganoe, Ed’s son.

Both brothers are gone now, but Ed’s wife, Nancy, and Jeff still operate The Tavern.

Nancy, who married Ed in 1966, became heavily involved with the business after the kids were older.

“We’ve met a lot of good people, and a few bad, too,” Nancy said. “But mostly good and we’ve made many friends over the years. But, I’m old, there are too many regulations, and it’s time to do something else. The bar always took priority.”

“I hope whoever buys it is dedicated to it and keeps it going,” Nancy said.

The business was a part of growing up for Jeff, who along with his siblings worked there.

“We more or less grew up here. Even when we were younger, we had Sunday responsibilities. I picked up the trash outside and we all had different chores.”

When Ed and Dick got started, Ed was studying to be a teacher, so he worked at the bar at night while Dick worked during the day. Ed went on to teach in the Oil City School District for 30 years, all while working nights at the Tavern.

Both Nancy, 72, and Jeff, 48, still run it, and the time it takes is considerable.

Nancy comes in at 6:30 every morning to get things started, and Jeff stays until close, which is midnight. They are open Monday through Saturday.

“She’s the boss, and I’m the manager, but she’s open to what I have to say, and it works pretty well,” Jeff said.

Jeff’s two oldest daughters work at the Tavern, and his two younger daughters help out on the weekends, as does his sister Julie and her children, even though The Tavern isn’t open on Sunday.

“With Mom getting older, we decided to sell it because it’s just too much for one person to do,” Jeff said. “But, I tell you, I’m still impressed with the people Mom remembers after 20 or 30 years from only seeing them once a year.”

Nancy still jokes that she was Ed’s second wife, and the bar was his first.

“It’s a lot of time and work. But, we have some pretty good memories here. At one time or another, we’ve had most of Clarion in here,” Nancy said.

Some local celebrities, Chris Kirkpatrick, a founding member of the music group NSYNC, and former Clarion University and NFL football player, Reggie Wells, were Tavern regulars.

Homemade food made The Tavern stand out, and most of the daily specials are still made in-house.

“With the exception of the beef patties, all the beef served here comes from my cows,” Jeff said.

Jeff, who lives out in the country on Camp Coffman Road, is getting started in the beef cattle business. He currently has 18 head of cattle.

The Tavern will remain open with its normal hours of 7:00 a.m. until midnight, Monday through Saturday, until it’s sold.

“It’ll be a sad day, but it will also be a relief, too,” Jeff said. “Then, we’ll see what happens.”