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For Better Or For Wurst
Posted by Jim Botticelli
February 12, 2014 04:25 PM
The Wursthaus was a Harvard Square landmark frequented by locals and visitors alike
Photo courtesy of the Cambridge Historical Society
Serving sauerbraten and schnitzel washed down with beers from around the world, the Wursthaus lasted 79 years as a Harvard Square institution. Located next door to The Tasty in the now demolished Read Block Building, it first opened in 1917 and was bought by Frank Cardullo in 1942. Cardullo is better known for his self-named gourmet shop located across from the Wursthaus which he opened in 1950.
Photo from CultureCheeseMag.com
By the mid 80s, the Wursthaus was clearing over $3 million a year but with the Red Line extension allowing riders to bypass Harvard Square altogether, the changing face of the area from a collection of funky one-off shops to the corporate landscape people complain of today, business began slowing. Coupled with an increase in health conscious diners, the meat and beer joint that had expanded from 50 to 500 seats suddenly fell out of favor with the masses. Cardullo filed for Chapter 11.
"There are certain restaurants, bookstores, and establishments that do a lot to define the special quality and tradition of the Square," said Derek Bok, former Harvard president at the time of its closing. "The Wursthaus is one of those establishments."
Please 'like' Dirty Old Boston on Facebook. Coming this year, Dirty Old Boston, the book.
Photo courtesy of the Cambridge Historical Society
Serving sauerbraten and schnitzel washed down with beers from around the world, the Wursthaus lasted 79 years as a Harvard Square institution. Located next door to The Tasty in the now demolished Read Block Building, it first opened in 1917 and was bought by Frank Cardullo in 1942. Cardullo is better known for his self-named gourmet shop located across from the Wursthaus which he opened in 1950.
Photo from CultureCheeseMag.com
By the mid 80s, the Wursthaus was clearing over $3 million a year but with the Red Line extension allowing riders to bypass Harvard Square altogether, the changing face of the area from a collection of funky one-off shops to the corporate landscape people complain of today, business began slowing. Coupled with an increase in health conscious diners, the meat and beer joint that had expanded from 50 to 500 seats suddenly fell out of favor with the masses. Cardullo filed for Chapter 11.
"There are certain restaurants, bookstores, and establishments that do a lot to define the special quality and tradition of the Square," said Derek Bok, former Harvard president at the time of its closing. "The Wursthaus is one of those establishments."
Please 'like' Dirty Old Boston on Facebook. Coming this year, Dirty Old Boston, the book.
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About the author
Jim Botticelli, a 1976 Northeastern University graduate, is a retired Boston Public Schools teacher. In college, he drove a cab and learned the city's cow paths. An avid collector of More »Recent blog posts
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