Dave Portnoy Saves an East Hartford Staple

Augie & Rays lives on because, of Dave Portnoy.

With 34 million dollars raised and 217 businesses supported by the Barstool Fund, one of the next establishments is a childhood relic of not just myself but, my father, its Augie and Rays Drive-In Restaurant. He went there with his dad when he was a kid and I would go with my grandpa and dad when I was a young kid.

I can remember the fond memories of going and getting breakfast on an early morning with my dad before we’d go see my grandma or going to car shows with my Papa and if Augie and Rays closed shop a little piece of my childhood would be destroyed and I think I speak for every resident of Northern CT.

Augie and Rays was founded in 1946 by two East Hartford cops, Ray Hutt and Augie Bria and it started off as a simple hot dog and ice cream stand. They weren’t business men but, they knew if they set up near Pratt and Whitney and had a friendly environment they would thrive. 70 year later they’re still here and with Covid-19 hitting it put a hindrance on their business.

With all the work that Dave Portnoy has been doing for small businesses, it was just a matter of time before a business that was near and dear to my heart was helped.