Popular Deli On The Move In New Haven

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

NEW HAVEN, CT – One of the most popular delicatessens in New Haven will be moving from its cramped Orange Street location to a spot three times larger on Grove Street to accommodate its loyal customer base.

Zoi’s, which has been located in its current 1,000-square-foot spot on Orange Street since December of 2003, will be opening at its new 3,000-square-foot location on Grove Street, much closer to the bustling downtown lunch crowd, in late September.

Zoi’s owner, Peter Maniatis, has been overseeing the work renovating the Grove Street site to his needs the past several weeks.

Maniatis stopped working for a few minutes on a recent day to talk about the reasons for the move.

“We just need more space for our customers,” Maniatis said. “It’s just tight conditions where we currently are.”

Zoi’s, which is named after Maniatis’ wife, is open for breakfast, lunch and does catering.

It has always been one of busier lunch spots in the city.

The Orange Street location is known for its outside seating, but as Maniatis said, it has limited space on the inside.

The Grove Street location doesn’t have outside seating, but Maniatis said he is going for the next best thing.

Pointing to the work being done at the front of the deli, he explained: “On nice days we will be able to open the front windows and have the whole front open to the surroundings. The seating will be inside, but it will have the feel of being outside.”

One of the advantages of having inside versus outside seating, Maniatis said, “is we aren’t dependent on the weather. People can sit and enjoy their food all year round, even if it’s raining or snowing.”

Maniatis said he also plans to take advantage of the deli’s proximity to nearby Yale University. He said he’s creating a small “Yale room,” which he said will have decorated with Yale pennants and Ivy, with the hopes it will be a destination breakfast and lunch location for Yale students and their families.

The Maniatis’ family certainly knows what it takes to run popular delis.

Pete’s brother, Dino, runs the Hornet’s Nest deli – one of the busiest lunch locations in Branford.