Wursthaus Harvard Square T-Shirt, Cambridge MA Nostalgia Tee

I think I got my first underage beer at the Wursthaus. German beer, so it felt educational. My mom was there. She was horrified.

For 79 years the Wursthaus served bratwurst, sauerbraten, and imported beer at 4 JFK Street in Harvard Square, right in the middle of everything, from 1917 to 1996. It was a Cambridge institution long before "institution" became a real estate euphemism. Frank Cardullo, the self-appointed and widely accepted unofficial mayor of Cambridge, bought the place in 1942 and ran it for fifty years while also opening Cardullo's Gourmet Shop across the street, still slinging imported snacks today. Harvard president Derek Bok ate there. So did the Aga Khan and Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. So did a lot of people who just wanted a stein and a plate of something heavy.

The Wursthaus closed in 1996. Russell House Tavern took over the space. The beer helped raise at least one future adult, badly.

This retro tee is for anyone who remembers the smell of that place, or just wants a slice of old Harvard Square history that goes with jeans.

The practical stuff

Soft combed ring-spun cotton, not the scratchy souvenir-shop kind (heather colors include polyester). Pre-shrunk, side-seamed, unisex fit that runs true to size. If you're between sizes or plan on aggressive brunching, size up.

Machine wash cold, inside out. Tumble dry low. The design will outlast most Cambridge institutions, which we realize is a low bar.