Ben’s Kosher Deli owner to retire after 47 years
Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center. Courtesy of The Public Relations and Marketing Group
Manhattan
208 Canal St., New York, NY 10013
212.710.2913
77 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
212.966.3303
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | FEB. 27-MARCH 5, 2020 5
BY JENNA BAGCAL
The owner of Ben’s Kosher
Deli announced plans to “step
back” from the business after
nearly 50 years.
In a letter posted on the
restaurant’s website earlier
this month, Ronnie Dragoon
reflected on his decision to
retire from the company that
he’s owned since 1972 and said
he wishes for Ben’s to continue
under new ownership.
“It’s hard to give up on what
one has been doing for over 47
years and doing it with love,
passion, and dedication and
proud of what I was able to accomplish…
but the restaurant
business is getting more difficult
to navigate and the labor
market is ever shrinking with
less loyalty and caring,” Dragoon
wrote in the letter.
Dragoon opened the first
Ben’s Deli location in Baldwin,
Long Island, in 1972. Since
then, the restaurateur opened
several other establishments
across Long Island, New York
City and Florida.
In the letter, the owner said
that he employs approximately
300 individuals in his stores.
Ben’s Deli at The Bay Terrace
shopping center opened
in 1994 and underwent renovations
in 2017, which included
an updated kitchen, bathrooms
and furniture.
“I need to exhale and smell
the fresh air of spring and fall,
the heat of summer and the
cold of winter, enjoy our grandchildren
and my wife, who
worked along side of me for 44
of my 47 years in business,”
said Dragoon.
He went on to say that following
his retirement, he intends
to pick someone to take over his
longtime brand, though he has
not yet decided whether he will
pass it on to a staff member or
an “outside entity.”
“Of one thing I am certain.
I want Ben’s to continue. So to
whomever I entrust in the future,
I would want them to keep
the tradition alive. Of course I
will always be a part of Ben’s to
my last days, just not working
behind the counter or wearing
my working whites with my
red suspenders!” he wrote.
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal
by e-mail at jbagcal@qns.
com or by phone at (718) 260-
2583.
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