It was the year 1972. Richard Nixon was president. "The French Connection" grabbed three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack was the No.1 song on Billboard's charts. New York Mets pitching ace Tom Seaver had his second 20-win season. And Ben's Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers opened its first location in Baldwin, New York.
In celebration of its 40th anniversary year, Ben's Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers announced today that it will hold a series of special events and promotions as a way of saying "thank you" to its most loyal customers throughout 2012. The celebration will feature a "Daily Deal" every day throughout the year based on a theme of either 40 years or the year 1972. The daily specials can be found on Ben's website (www.bensdeli.net) or on Ben's fan page on Facebook. Future events include a 40-year reunion featuring customers from the original location in Baldwin and a kosher barbecue for former and current Ben's employees who have worked at any of the Ben's locations during the past 40 years. Additional events based on the 40th anniversary celebration are being planned for each of its locations.
Ben's was founded by Ronnie Dragoon. After graduating from Brooklyn College with a degree in Political Science and completing his tour as a Vista Volunteer in Indiana, Mr. Dragoon moved back to New York in 1972 and put down $6,500 to open Ben's Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant, which he named after his father. His humble upbringing instilled in him a desire to please others and, since then, he has incorporated that trait into his business philosophy. Currently, Ben's has six locations, including midtown Manhattan; Bayside, Queens; Boca Raton, Florida; and three in Nassau County. Ben's employs over 280 people. Mr. Dragoon can still be seen working behind the counter at the Greenvale and Boca Raton locations, mentoring younger employees about the restaurant industry. He continues to personally oversee the restaurant group's operations.
When asked about why his restaurant has survived and thrived when so many other kosher eateries have closed its doors, Mr. Dragoon said, "To some, delicatessen is something you put between two slices of bread. To me, it's a calling. We're a family business and our customers are part of the family. At the end of the day, every guest should feel comfortable, happy and full...always full!"
For more information, visit www.bensdeli.net, or call Ben's Catering Hotline at1 (800) 344-BENS (2367).