CBS TV Star Jay Harrington Secretly Runs a Santa Monica Pizza Joint

Let’s simply get it out of the way in which up high: Sure, Jay Harrington is that man from that present. Actually, the trim, silver-haired actor has been in a number of stuff over the course of his lengthy profession. At present, he’s in his sixth season on the high-powered CBS present S.W.A.T., to call only one credit score. To a sure Santa Monica demographic, although, he’s simply that man who runs Rock ’N Pies, the family-friendly neighborhood place for a slice and a pint of beer.

“I sit within the nook, eat my salad, have the pizza as soon as every week, and each infrequently individuals do say, ‘Hey, you appear like that man from that present,’” says Harrington, a skinny chain peeking out from the neck of his tight T-shirt. “I simply inform them ‘Properly, that’s me.’ After which they need to know why I’m bussing the tables, and I inform them that that is my restaurant.”

For greater than a yr now, Harrington has been the proprietor — and infrequently the on-site supervisor — for Rock ’N Pies, a colourful Wilshire Boulevard pizzeria and pub that hides within the shadow of bigger culinary contemporaries like Rustic Canyon (throughout the road) and Citrin and Mélisse (on the finish of the block). Cease by most evenings to search out Harrington working pizzas to tables, pulling pints of craft beer, or hovering close to the kitchen, reminding staff to activate the string lights close to the faucet handles and to fan out the bar napkins slightly bit.

“These guys make enjoyable of me on a regular basis,” says Harrington with fun. “I drive them loopy, but it surely’s the little issues.”

5 years in the past, Harrington was only a fan of Rock ’N Pies. He befriended the proprietor the way in which most folk do, by turning into an everyday. He would take conferences on the restaurant or swing by way of after work for a chew. In 2017 he even screened the pilot episode of S.W.A.T. on the restaurant, analyzing his efficiency together with a eating room stuffed with solid and crew. When the enterprise went up on the market he merely couldn’t see it passing into the fingers of anybody else, lest they tinker with the mannequin he already appreciated, so he purchased it himself. And since he was displaying up nearly day by day anyway he figured he may as nicely really get his fingers soiled, as a substitute of simply studying the revenue and loss statements on the finish of the month. The restaurant often seems in Instagram posts to Harrington’s 371,000 followers, however most days it’s simply enterprise as common.

“I work 5 days every week, eight to 10 hours days,” says Harrington of his day job as a profitable tv and movie actor. “After which I’m right here. My rule is a minimum of two or three hours. I are available in, I bus tables, I do no matter I can.”

To date, in underneath two years of possession, Harrington has grown from a well-recognized face to the person with the mission: Preserve Rock ’N Pies pleasant, family-focused, and enjoyable.

“We solely have beer and wine,” he says. “I do know if I bought a liquor license I’d in all probability get extra prospects, however I don’t need that. I need the vibe to be what it’s. We get regulars who come to have two slices and a beer, or a glass of wine. They’re right here two or thrice every week. That’s what makes a spot.”

Harrington additionally isn’t about to jack up his costs or pour cash right into a transform simply to place his personal distinctive stamp on issues. Proper now the place is an everlasting mishmash of music paraphernalia and painted by hand art work, plus the requisite stickers, neon indicators, and televisions all left by the earlier proprietor. Asking prospects (even in Santa Monica) to pay extra or to climate some massive change in the feel and appear of the place simply doesn’t sit proper for the Massachusetts-born Harrington.

“Look, inflation’s the actual deal proper now. You’ve heard the horror tales about lettuce costing no matter it prices,” says Harrington. “We have been by no means going to lift costs simply because I purchased the place. I made it completely clear.” He cites an instance: On soccer Sundays final fall, Rock ’N Pies supplied half-priced baskets of wings and pitchers of beer (“home, let’s not be loopy”). Why knock down the value of two clearly high-volume gadgets throughout recreation day?

“Properly, if nobody’s right here then I’m not promoting any wings,” says Harrington. “I need to appeal to individuals with offers, not with having the highest-end meals on the town. We’ve nice meals, don’t get me unsuitable, however persons are hurting. I can take the hit proper now, so let’s do it. And hopefully all of it shakes out in the long run.”

He tries to be equally cognizant of his workers, most of whom have been with him since he took over the place. Pedro Méndez oversees the again of the home as the chief chef, whereas Jacqie Lopez and Tanner Pierce maintain down many of the front-of-house duties. They’re the actual lifeblood of the place, Harrington says, retaining households fed and takeout orders buzzing in the course of the many hours that he isn’t on the restaurant.

“These individuals caught by way of all of the bullshit we’ve needed to undergo,” he says, ticking off just some of the various points which have plagued eating places and employees over the previous few pandemic years. The restaurant is just open “due to them, and the way laborious they work,” he insists.

Seeing individuals, particularly returning faces, come by way of the entrance door signifies that Harrington’s restaurant is working. Rock ’N Pies is significant to his prospects and his staff, even when it’s not the shiniest, coolest place within the neighborhood.

“I’m a creature of behavior,” says Harrington. “I like my locations. I’ve lived in Santa Monica for 25 years and I’ve been to Rustic Canyon as soon as, okay? And I do know they’ve nice stuff!”

“Guess who is available in right here on a regular basis, although? The workers of Citrin, earlier than and after shifts,” he provides. “They’re all in right here, the final supervisor, the top waiter, the maitre d’. I do know these individuals by identify. That’s the very best. To have the ability to exit again and shoot the shit with the valet man as a result of I’ve recognized him for thus lengthy, that’s what I need. That’s the cool stuff.”

Rock ’N Pies is open day by day in Santa Monica at 1120 Wilshire Boulevard, with hours from midday to midnight. Jay Harrington is a co-star on the CBS present S.W.A.T.