Roy Guenther has owned the Top Hat Tavern in West Union for 41 years, which will be celebrated on Saturday, March 24. One week later, he’ll say, “Cheers!” for the final time as owner of the bar, as Nick Polfer of Postville takes possession on April 1.  Chris DeBack photo

One final 'Cheers!'

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

On March 24, Roy Guenther will raise a glass to cheer 41 years as owner of the Top Hat Tavern in West Union.

A week later, he’ll raise a glass one final time as owner of the bar he has owned for four decades. On April 1, Nick Polfer of Postville will officially take possession of the Top Hat Tavern from Guenther. It will certainly be a bittersweet moment for the West Union man, who is giving up his business because of health issues. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in early 2017. 

“It seems like I just bought into the business yesterday,” Guenther said. “I had a stroke in 2013 and now being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, my health has gone south. I’m not complaining; it is just the hand I have been dealt. It is basically like being disabled, you could say. I make trips back uptown once in a while, but I don’t do much besides checking inventories and talking with suppliers. After 41 years, it is just time.”