Bartley's Window Smashed

UPDATED: Feb. 24, 2010, 8:03 p.m.

Around 10:40 p.m. yesterday, one of our correspondents walked by Bartley's and noticed that the front window had been shattered. As we reported earlier, the window was boarded up by 12:27 a.m.

So what happened outside of Bartley's last night? Here's the story, as promised.

According to Bill Bartley, the legendary owner of Mr. Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers, two "semi-intoxicated" college-aged males broke the glass yesterday around 9:30 p.m. While Bartley said he would not reveal their names, he confirmed that the two men were Harvard students. [UPDATE: Bartley now says he is not sure that the men are Harvard students.]

Most of the window remained intact, but the men left behind a circular hole in the glass storefront.

"It's just like what usually happens," Bartley told us. "They're wrestling and someone's butt goes through the glass."

After the accident, which took place while the restaurant was still open, one of the two students came forward and took responsibility for the broken window (five gold stars for you, perp #1). According to Bartley, that student convinced his cohort to return and "do the right thing" (hmm, maybe 3 gold stars for you, perp #2). Had the perpetrators tried to escape, though, they still could have been caught: the well-known burger joint is equipped with a security camera.

In Bartley's 38 years at the restaurant, the large 7 by 10 foot glass window has been broken about 4 times. The other, smaller glass window has been broken several times as well. "It is the nature of operating in a college town," Bartley said.

But the large window, which will be replaced on Thursday, is here to stay (insurance is expected to cover most of the damages). Bartley told us that the artist who has painted the colorful "Bartley's" on the window in years past will be called back to paint the new window.

Bartley said he could not imagine the restaurant any other way, adding that he would probably have to consult with Harvard and the city historical commission if he ever wanted to change the exterior of the building.

He also had some advice for the next drunken college student who decides to break a Bartley's window: "You should be breaking glass on Friday and Saturday nights. Not Monday nights. I'm there on Friday and Saturday nights when all the glass breaking should be happening. Not a Monday night. You kids should be studying."

Photo by Xi Yu '13, Crimson Staff Writer.