Pepi’s — an iconic Vail establishment

Strolling the walkable streets of Vail might seem like exploring a little European village, but stepping into Gasthof Gramshammer will totally transport you to Austria. Opened in 1964 as one of the few businesses in Vail, this hotel and restaurant is a photo-worthy landmark from the outside and a place to easily escape for an authentic Austrian meal in a unique European atmosphere — or relax, drink in hand, on one of the best patios this side of the Rocky Mountains.

Founded by famed Austrian skier and Vail pioneer Pepi Gramshammer and his wife, Sheika, Pepi’s Bar & Restaurant has been serving up jäger schnitzel, wiener schnitzels, wild game, fresh seasonal salads and more on Bridge Street, pretty much as long as people have been skiing Vail Mountain.

“If you know Pepi’s history … Pepi was one of the founders,” said Helmut Kaschitz, the longtime executive chef at Pepi’s. “Pepi still has a name here — if you mention his name, everybody knows who he is. And if you look, all the pictures on the wall, all the people that came here.”

Kaschitz points to the largest wall in the restaurant area, covered in framed, signed photos of everyone from actors and actresses to musicians, politicians to professional skiers and others who frequented Pepi’s when in Vail. There’s Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, Sophia Loren, Arnold Schwarzenegger and so many other photos to go down memory lane.

The Gramshammers became close friends with President Gerald R. Ford and his family over the years. Kasitch, who has been with Pepi’s for about 20 years along with his sous chef Richie Fraser whom he found and recruited while in Jamaica, has had the pleasure of cooking for many celebrities over the years. But one of his favorite memories comes from cooking for President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford at the Gramshammer home in Potato Patch.

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He remembers pulling up with his ingredients and wearing his chef uniform, hesitantly greeted by two large men with the Secret Service. When asked what he was doing, Kaschitz — who speaks with a thick European accent — replied “Guess what I’m doing.”

“And they looked at me, and I was watched the entire evening in the kitchen,” Kaschitz said. “But everything turned out great. He actually came to the kitchen to thank me. I shook his hand, and his wife’s. It’s something I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was really something memorable.”

From the moment you step inside of Pepi’s, the history is there hanging on the wall with a giant plaque from the Austrian Ski Federation, a token of appreciation for the restaurant and bar serving as the Austrian House during three World Championships — two-week events that are the pinnacle of international ski racing, outside of the Olympics.

“I had a good time, let me tell you,” Kaschitz said with a laugh, “They brought over the beer from Austria, so I had a good two weeks, if you know what I mean.”

After making thousands of schnitzels during the winter, Kaschitz switches to his summer menu full of fresh salads, refreshing appetizers and more. The schnitzels remain year-round, though, as they must, he said. “When you ask about the history of Pepi, just come over here and look at what it is,” Kasitch said cheerfully.