Harry's Pizza Moving, but Menu to Remain Unchanged

For a short time, it appeared that the unthinkable – a West Hartford Center without – would become a reality.

Indeed, with the pizzeria’s lease set to expire this summer and planning to expand into the space Harry’s currently occupies at 1003 Farmington Ave., there was a distinct possibility that the restaurant, a town institution for over 20 years, would shutter its doors for good.

“It’s almost impossible to imagine West Hartford Center without Harry’s; personally, I remember it as being one of the first places in West Hartford Center where it was cool for young people to hang out,” said Mayor Scott Slifka, who took his first high school date to the pizzeria in the early 1990s. “She wound up being my senior prom date, so it went pretty well.”

New generations in town will still be able to experience that rite of passage, as Harry’s will officially move sometime in August around the corner to its new location at 39 S. Main St., across the street from .

“We were a little upset about what happened over there,” said Max Rufleth, Harry’s manager and the son of owner Barbara Lang, in an interview Thursday afternoon. “But we think we will do very well here.”

The new space is a little smaller than the restaurant’s current 2,700 square feet, plus there is no basement for storage at the new location.

However, worry not Harry’s stalwarts. The new location will feature the same equipment, booths, fans and, most importantly, the same menu.

The restaurant will continue to serve the iconic pizzas that have made Harry’s a regional rival of other famed Connecticut pizzerias, including Pepe’s in New Haven.

“Have no fear,” said Rufleth. “Everything will be very similar to what it was before.”

There will be a few changes to bring the restaurant up to date with its competition in the Center, according to Rufleth.

While the restaurant’s capacity will be reduced from 62 to 52, the new location will feature a section with movable tables and chairs to accommodate parties of up to 20 patrons. The current location had stationary booths and tables, the largest one of which seats just seven.

In addition, several televisions will be installed and several new appetizers and salads are in the works.

Otherwise, things will remain unchanged.

“Familiar is a good word,” Mark Mahoney, a former co-owner who is helping with the relocation, said.

It’s not the first time Harry’s has moved. The pizzeria first opened on Capitol Avenue in 1989 before taking up in its location on Farmington Avenue in 1991.

Harry’s is one of several core businesses – including and Becker’s – to have seen the change West Hartford Center has undergone from quaint town square to regional entertainment and dining destination. They have been an integral part of the community for over 20 years, sponsoring numerous youth baseball, soccer, and basketball teams.

“You can’t quantify the contribution that [Harry’s] has made to West Hartford Center,” Slifka said.

Mahoney, for his part, said that the success was more happenstance than planned.

“We caught a wave early and we were lucky in that aspect,” he said.

Rufleth, who was 2 when the restaurant opened, grew up with Harry’s.

“There used to be a line down the street because we were the only restaurant around,” Rufleth recalled.

Despite the changes in the surroundings and locations, the quality of the food remains the same.

“It’s delicious,” Judy DeMars said of the cheese pizza she was sharing with co-worker Dina Smedick during lunchtime on Thursday.

“We also love the salad and the dressing,” Smedick said.

DeMars and Smedick said that they eat at Harry’s once a month and will continue to do so after the move.

“It’s closer [to the office],” DeMars said.