Lease Deal Could Stall Pizza Popular At Highland Park, Geissler's

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The owners of a popular pizza restaurant and bar in West Hartford that is due to close next month over lease complications said Monday they prefer to remain in town. The pizza is featured at two area supermarkets.

The closing, "is strictly due to the inability to negotiate acceptable terms with the landlord," said Bon Hagmeier, who owns Harry's Pizzeria & Tavern with his wife, MaryAnn.

Harry's has been at 39 South Main St. for about a decade and the lease is slated to expire on March 31, Hagmier said.

But he doesn't want to leave town. Hagmeier said he is in the midst of negotiations regarding several possible new locations, but added it would be premature to say where, citing the ongoing talks.

"The West Hartford community is the best in all of Connecticut, in my opinion," Hagmeier said.

Harry's came to West Hartford in 1992 from Hartford. It was located on Farmington Avenue before moving to the South Main location.

Harry's has grown even more popular because of arrangements with two privately held supermarket chains in north-central Connecticut. It sells to four Geissler's markets in Bloomfield, Granby, East Windsor and South Windsor.

Harry's pizza is also featured on Highland Park Market locations in Farmington and Manchester.