Sally and Bob’s History
By Benjamin “Bob” Dworetsky
The name Sally and Bob’s seemed
inevitable for the name of the new restaurant. You must
understand that we (Sally and Bob) were inseparable. You see
one – the other is not far behind. And should it happen,
on rare occasions, when we are temporarily apart, should anyone
see us by ourself, they would immediately say, “Here
comes Sally and Bob.”
It started when the lovebirds married in
1948. Sally’s father, Norman Yellin, invited me to work
with him in his deli in New York - Midtown Manhattan. The
relationship was wonderful. In 1962, the entire area was caught
up in redevelopment and my father-in-law and I had to give up
the business.
As luck would have it, the wholesaler with
whom we dealt, told us of a deli in Hartford, CT that was going
out of business. So one day my father-in-law and I went to
Connecticut to take a look-see. The course of our lives changed
that day! We bought the business almost on the spot and we
moved to Hartford. Business was good. But, you wouldn’t
believe what happened! The year was 1969 and we were caught up
in the redevelopment again. Nobody told us life would be a bed
of roses! It isn’t and it wasn’t, but what do you
do?
My father-in-law, Norman, wasn’t
getting any younger and wouldn’t consider partnership
again. So Sally and I had to strike out on our own. One day we
heard that a breakfast and lunch type restaurant was for sale
in West Hartford Center. I took my daughter, Rhonda, to have a
look. The location was good and I thought the potential was
there. I bought the place on the spot. Sally agreed and it
turned out to be a great investment. Things looked pretty good
for all.
Come 1983, I wanted to retire and my
daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Ronnie Zieky were
chompin’ at the bit to take over. Ronnie loved cooking
and the food service business. I didn’t think twice about
handing him over the keys.
The rest, as they say, is history.
If and when you’re in West Hartford,
come and see us. You’ll be glad you did!
