Ben's Kosher Deli Celebrates 50th Anniversary

WOODBURY, NY — When it comes to hot dogs and corned beef sandwiches, Ben's Kosher.

Deli has been a fan favorite for years, 50 to be precise.

So, owner Ronald "Ronnie" Dragoon, who founded the restaurants, is saying thank you to patrons with special deals throughout the year, such as a $19.72 meal for one, or a $50 family package.

But it's bittersweet, as the last two years have been the most challenging for Dragoon.

"I'm a consumer and I feel my prices are too high," Dragoon admits. "I have no choice. It's either that or go out of business."

Dragoon was forced to shut his Scarsdale location since the pandemic created havoc.

There are Ben's in Woodbury, Greenvale and Carle Place. His first location in Baldwin closed years ago. His largest square footage is in Boca Raton.

Dragoon is dealing with supply chain problems, leading to kosher meats, at times, doubling their price. Plus, there has been a severe backlog getting bologna, salami and knockwurst from the distributor.

"What I can't understand is the raising of the pricing for products that are made here," Dragoon told Patch.

While he's holding on at his Long Island locations, Ben's Deli in Midtown on West 38th Street and 7th Avenue is struggling as many now work remotely. Dragoon is uncertain of that restaurant's future, should COVID-19 variants linger.

Earlier in the pandemic, he would shut the Manhattan restaurant at 3 or 4 p.m. each day.

"It was a mortuary," Dragoon recalled.

As customers were slow to return, Ben's reduced hours, "because there was no business and most of the guys were making overtime. I would be hard-pressed to pay overtime if there are no customers in the store," he said.

That said, Long Island locations are still hurting in the dining room, while the takeout does well as customers tiptoe around the latest COVID-19 variant.

The deli owner, who grew up in Queens, is happy to be in the twilight of his career.

"I'm trying to make my life a bit easier," Dragoon, 73, said.

It all started for him in 1972 while his father-- the Ben-- had a small kosher deli on 72nd Street on the Upper West Side.

As for the surname, for those wondering if Dragoon is Jewish, he is. The family's name was changed from Dragunsky at Ellis Island.

Dragoon got his experience by closing the eatery so his dad could go home early. Perhaps even more important was getting the name change on the signage.

"You're a personable guy, smart as a whip. Put your name on there," he told his father. "And he listened to me."

Ultimately, Ben and Ronnie would join forces for a deli as a store location became available by bankruptcy, and it only cost them $5,000.

But the dream partnership only lasted six months for father and son. Of course, his dad's name would be as much a mainstay as the matzo ball soup.

"He was not a businessperson. He wasn't detailed and he never liked to pay any bills," Dragoon said.

That first location was in Baldwin. It shuttered two decades ago, but Ben's delivers to the impacted south shore, usually from Carle Place. The Bayside location fills the void for Scarsdale's closure, providing deliveries to Westchester.

In 1982, Dragoon expanded north to Greenvale for restaurant number two. At one point, Washington was in his sights, as he scouted a location in the nation's capital.

Dragoon broke the mold for how kosher delis appear. Before Ben's, "there was no esthetics to them. It was just bland."

At the height of his pastrami popularity, Dragoon had 10 restaurants and more than 400 employees.

He's planning a remodel at Greenvale in the spring, with new furniture and fixtures.

Dragoon is wiser from his years in the restaurant business but acknowledges the system is not easy to navigate.

"There was a time I worked seven straight years without a day off except for the Jewish holidays," he said. "I opened it and I closed it. I worked 103 hours a week."

As his regular customers age, Dragoon looks to get younger with healthier options. Ben's now offers plant-based selections for people more concerned about their food intake.

"Every generation removed from the immigrant experience is less loyal to the kosher deli," he said.

For everyone else, Ben's double steams the juicy pastrami, one of their signature dishes. The corned beef, brisket and turkey are also staples, along with old-world carbs on the side: potato knishes or latkes (pancakes).

"It's been an interesting journey. I take pride in all the stores," Dragoon said. "I'm passionate about them."