Walter R. Hertler, Philly restaurateur

A life celebration will be held Wednesday, June 22, for Walter R. Hertler, 74, of Bryn Mawr, a trailblazing Philadelphia restaurateur, who died Thursday, June 2, of cancer at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Known as "Wally," Mr. Hertler had a knack for anticipating where the city's next hot spot would be, and moved quickly to establish elegant bar-eateries that helped spawn Center City's "restaurant renaissance" in the 1970s.

In 1976, he took an antique bar from a derelict tavern and installed it in a building at Fourth and Bainbridge Streets in Queen Village. The massive mahogany bar was similar to the one in Hertler's Cafe, his family's Brewerytown bar, where he had spent much of his childhood.

At the new site, he added handcrafted wood, etched glass, beveled mirrors, and Victorian lamps. He offered quality food and drink, and friendly service at a moderate price.

"And it's working!" Philadelphia Magazine declared of his first endeavor, Shippen's.

In the 1980s, he opened Waldo's Bar & Grill in Old City, adjacent to Welcome Park. "He saw the need for more restaurant-bars in this historic area of Philadelphia, especially with the then-impending opening of the Convention Center," said his wife, Adrienne Sheldon Hertler.

The eatery was famous for its annual Kentucky Derby party and elegant ambience.

"Waldo's is one of the city's most beautiful bars, full of mahogany, marble and dried flower arrangements with as many shades of pink as a turn-of-the-century garden party," the Inquirer wrote.

Mr. Hertler recognized the appeal of al fresco dining, and offered it on the sidewalk at Shippen's and a walkway to Welcome Park in front of Waldo's. The outdoor seating was an instant hit.

In the early 1980s, he ran the London Victory Club, an after-hours club at 10th and Chestnut Streets that featured abundant white marble and bouncers turned out in black tuxedos.

In the early 1990s, he and his wife opened Adrienne's Bistro on South Street near Fifth, a bar-restaurant offering American and French cuisine. Shortly after its debut, a Philadelphia Magazine reviewer described the establishment as having combined "seriously gussied-up decor" with a "casual, accessible menu."

"We all have to grow up sometime - the Hertlers have managed to do so, with good taste, and still hang out most nights on South Street," the reviewer wrote.

The son of Walter G. and Catherine Quinn Hertler, Mr. Hertler was born and reared in Philadelphia. His first bartending job was at Dirty Frank's. While working there, he also became a popular bartender at other hip Philadelphia bars, such as Wildflowers and Artemis, his wife said.

Mr. Hertler's promotional events were "unmatched and loved by all," his wife said. They included a Bloody Mary contest, the Bartender's Ball, Casino Night, Halloween, Jazz Night, Academy Awards parties - and a Cigar Dinner at Adrienne's Bistro in the 1990s.

"He was a connector of people and a visionary in the restaurant business," his wife said. "His story will most likely bring back memories to people of some of the best times in their lives. He made sure everybody had a good time."

Besides his wife, he is survived by daughter Adrienne; a brother; and nieces and nephews.

The celebration of his life will be held at Colonial Dames Society, 1630 Latimer St. A visitation starting at 4 p.m. will be followed by a memorial service at 5, and then a reception. Burial was private.

In his memory, his wife asked mourners to "raise a toast to Wally, and take a moment to savor the best things in life."

bcook@phillynews.com

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