Hardware City Tavern in New Britain is located at the Main Street site of a famous 1931 Harry Houdini stunt. Photo courtesy New Britain Chamber of Commerce

When the Hardware City Tavern opened its doors in downtown New Britain, Conn., its owners planned a spectacular stunt to celebrate the occasion. Re-enacting a feat accomplished by famed escape artist Harry Houdini at the very same site in 1931, rope artist and local resident Nick Cegelka hung upside down from the building's fifth story roof, managed to escape from a straight-jacket and then lowered himself safely to the ground.

The restaurant's owners and downtown New Britain boosters are hoping that the excitement doesn't end there.

Hardware City Tavern opened last April, leading what local officials hope will be a parade of new restaurants to the Connecticut city, which has struggled to attract a solid economic base to its downtown ever since its bustling hardware trade began to decline in the middle part of the 20th century.

In many ways, the Hardware City Tavern, opened by partners Raj Patel and Ken Kozee, is a pioneering enterprise for downtown New Britain. It is the first full-service, upscale restaurant to open downtown in over a decade. The restaurant comes as New Britain heralds in a period of revitalization downtown with the opening of new condos, theaters and entertainment venues.

Bill Millerick, president of the New Britain Chamber of Commerce, worked closely with the Hardware City's owners in opening the restaurant. He said three or four new restaurants are on the drawing board for downtown New Britain, but many of the restaurateurs wanted to wait for Hardware City to make the initial splash on the downtown dining scene.

"A lot of people are watching to see how Hardware City does," said Millerick. "It's really a catalyst for developing a restaurant scene downtown. They're the first ones off the bench."

And for the restaurant's owners, so far business is booming, defying current economic trends.

"As you can hear, we're doing quite well," said Patel, as he struggled to talk over a recent late dinner crowd. "We're quite happy. We're hitting our target revenues."

Millerick described the restaurant's opening as a landmark occasion for the downtown New Britain community.

"Everybody was so thrilled about these guys coming downtown, they were giddy, almost," he said. "The place was just packed, packed wall to wall. It was phenomenal."

But location alone isn't what has drawn crowds to Hardware City, Patel said. The restaurant offers an extensive menu featuring traditional American "pub grub" favorites, he said. Diners can feast on a dozen different styles of chicken wings including: "Icky Wings," featuring a secret blend of honey, barbecue sauce and hot sauce; "Peanut Butter Wings," featuring peanut butter, hot sauce and spices; and "Dirt Wings," although the restaurant won't disclose what ingredients actually go into that selection. The restaurant also features an extensive list of burgers, wraps and sandwiches, salads, soups and larger dinner entrees. No entrée on the menu costs more than $22 and most items on the menu are priced at about $7 or $8.

Portions are large at Hardware City. The "HCT" Burger includes a full pound of pure Angus beef (about twice the size of most restaurant burgers) and is topped with a sherry mushroom sauce, cheddar cheese and scallions, and served with onion rings. The entire dish only costs $9.95.

The restaurant also includes several nightly specials designed to appeal specifically to customers living in difficult economic times. On Mondays diners can enjoy a full pound of chicken wings and a pitcher of beer for just $9.95. On Wednesdays, patrons are treated to free chips and salsa, and Corona beers, house margaritas and Jose Cuervo tequila shots for just $2 each.

And the crowds don't retreat after the dinner rush. The restaurant hosts bands and a lively bar atmosphere that keeps the place hopping into the early morning hours on several nights.

New Britain officials said they hope the restaurant will continue to draw in crowds.

"From my perspective, it's just so heartening to see people who hadn't been downtown in a while come down for Hardware City," Millerick said.

Hardware City Tavern is located at 136 Main St. in New Britain, Conn. For more information, call the restaurant at (860) 348-1891 or visit www.hardwarecitytavern.com.