An armed robbery in downtown Stratford during happy hour left a bartender hospitalized Tuesday, police say.

Police shut down a busy stretch of Main Street as they sought a robbery suspect who they say opened fire as the victim was giving him money around 7 p.m.

The bar, known simply as Bar, is in a populated area surrounded by other restaurants and near an ice cream shop and karate studio where children were attending class.

Police did not immediately release the bartender's name. They say he was taken to the hospital to undergo surgery.