Go Ugly Early!

Harry's was founded in 1919 orginally as a chocolate shop (Berglund). However, back in 1933, when the owners, Harry Marack and Deac Reisner, partnership dissolved, Marack combined his bar, Harry's, and the chocolate shop to make Harry's Chocolate Shop, which it remains today (Berglund).

 

It is rumored that Harry's was an active bar, a speakeasy, during the years of prohibition in the 1920's and early 30's. However, through all of our research we could not find any concrete information to confirm this myth, although it remains to be popular belief. 

 

If Harry's was a speakeasy during prohibiton, Marack faced severe penalties if the authorities had ever discovered that they were selling alcohol. The courts could have convicted Marack with possession and distribution of intoxicating beverages. According to a government book on prohibition, these were punishable by fines, jail time, or both. For first and second time offenders, the fines were no less than $100 and no more than $500 (Enforcement 426). As for the jail time for first and second time offenders, the perpetrator would be subject to at least 30 days and no more than 6 months in a county jail (Enforcement 426). On the third infraction, the penalties become even more severe. Third time offenders face fines of $200 to $1000 and jail time ranging from 1 to 2 years in state prison (Enforcement 426). Since Harry's was a large scale distribution center, it would probably be fined and Marack would face jail time. It is also possible that it will skip past the first and second time offense charges.