Who Is Harry?

Harry’s Hofbrau was founded at its present Redwood City location in 1968 by Harry Kramer.

Harry’s family migrated from Austria to New York in the early 1900’s. Harry eventually ended up in San Francisco where he visited a cousin who worked for a creamery on Filmore Street.

In 1934, Kramer opened his own little deli by the bay. Five years later, he was hired as secretary of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association where he was introduced to top-ranking restaurant officials. His management career continued at Bunny’s Waffle Shop and at the Pig ‘n’ Whistle.

Eventually, he converted an old hamburger stand into a sit-down restaurant in Redwood City. In 1946, Harry opened three 24-hour eateries called “Kramer’s.” One was on El Camino Real near Atherton, another was in Palo Alto and the third in San Bruno. In 1966, Kramer opened the first Hofbrau in Redwood City at the corner of Roosevelt Avenue and El Camino Real. In 1968, the business moved to its current location at 1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City.

In 1969, with Harry about to retire, Denny’s restaurant chain wanted to acquire the Hofbrau. Harry’s son Larry, eager to continue the long established connection to the dining public, stepped in to make a career of insuring that Harry’s Hofbrau would continue in the community as a family owned tradition. Larry eventually expanded the concept through the years, adding as many as six other locations at one time or another.

Today, Larry Kramer remains as President and CEO, while his two sons, Stephen and Kevin, along with brother-in-law Ron Olcese, actively manage the locations at Redwood City, San Jose, San Leandro and Foster City.