Benny's is Open for Business

Simsbury has another venue to feed its need for gyros, pizza, burgers, grinders and pancakes – Benny’s of Simsbury.

The eatery and take out establishment (plus free delivery) opened Oct. 6 in the former Simsbury Deli location, 562 Hopmeadow Street. The deli had been closed for several months before Benny Gjonbalaj leased the space and started extensive renovations. Good thing Gjonbalaj, who lives in West Hartford, also owns a construction company (called Benny’s Home Improvement LLC).

The space now house tables and chairs and a counter area to accommodate about 40 people total. The hours are being finalized, but Benny’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Someone is there at 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday – but those hours are subject to change depending on when the business is busiest.

The specialty at Benny’s will be the gyros – everything is homemade, including the sauces. The gyros will be made with beef or chicken and cost $7.95 to $8.95.

“That’s my favorite,” said Gjonbalaj of gyros.

What is as interesting as the menu is the family that is behind the new restaurant. Benny and Malica Gjonbalaj are originally from Montenegro. The family moved to Germany and operated a gyro stand there before moving to Connecticut and settling in West Hartford in 1998.

The family includes three children, all of whom have been helping with the new venture. The eldest son, Zen, is now moving to Florida. What these family members have in common is an incredibly strong work ethic. Everyone is doing at least two time-consuming jobs at once. The elder Benny has the construction company, his son Ben Jr. works full time as an engineer at Pratt & Whitney and then comes to the restaurant in the afternoon and on the weekends. The daughter, Lisa, is a full-time student at the University of Hartford preparing to continue her education to become a pharmacist.

But they all seemed upbeat and happy on the first Saturday night their business was open. The place had been filled that morning for breakfast, said Ben Jr., who lives in East Granby.

He said in about a month they will have figured out more about what the community is looking to eat and what the best hours will be.

(There is another Benny’s in Vernon that is no relation to this site, but they do know each other. In fact, the congratulatory bouquet of flowers on the counter was from the Vernon Benny’s.)

The pizza is thin crust New York style and is offered in white clam, chicken pesto, Hawaiian and Mediterranean (sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, onions, feta cheese, with basil and herbs) and Benny’s pizza (thinly sliced gyro chicken, gyro beef, onions, peppers and tsatziki sauce), among other specialties. A small pizza ranges in price fro $11.50 to $13.95 and a large ranges in price from $17.50 to $19.95.

Dinner fare is similar to lunch but may cost a bit more as there are sides included with dinner that do not come with lunch, such as rice. French fries are included with burgers at lunch. Sandwiches, wraps, calzones, soup, salads and appetizers are also on the menu.

Breakfast includes omelets, French toast, pancakes and waffles.

The business plans to launch a web site in the coming weeks with its menu.

There is parking behind the business as well as in front. There is Wi-Fi and a flat screen television in the restaurant.

Ben Jr. has worked in restaurants in the past, but not a family-owned business.

He said it’s “exciting” but also “it’s a lot of work.” When putting the staff together they had a head start with family members, as well as area contacts. Russo Radoncic has been a chef at restaurants in New York and Connecticut for decades and was a family friend. He is now on board at Benny’s.

Malica said it’s a “joy” to be with family and friends.

“I like the people. I like serving them good food,” said Malica as to what she likes about the business.

Everything is shiny in the restaurant as everything is new – the gyro meat is housed on two vertical spits, ordered from Australia as the brand the family favors is made there, and tempts the customers from just behind the counter.

One casualty of the new venture is the difficulty it will be to take a family vacation. Someone has to be working.

Benny's of Simsbury, 562 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury. Call 860-651-3700.