HAMDEN- B&D Deli Works, which has been known for serving Quinnipiac students and Hamden locals for six years, officially closed down on Dec. 21, 2019.
B&D first opened in August of 2013 and was owned by Amy Brejwo. The name came from Brejwo’s two sons, Ben and Dan. Brejwo spent many days and nights building the diner from the ground up, but she was very family oriented and had to step away from the business when it began to take up a lot of her family time.
Mark Mashaw, a resident of South Hamden, was a school teacher at the time Brejwo was looking for someone to take over the deli.
“I was a teacher for 18 years and I was looking for something new,” said Mashaw. “I had always wanted to be my own boss.”
In September of 2018, Mashaw became the new manager of B&D.
“Amy was a super human that could do more in one day than three people,” said Mashaw. “Whatever she had done worked so well, so I wanted to continue to do that.”
It didn’t take long for things to go south once Mashaw took over.
“Amy had created so much volume that everyday people were out the door,” said Mashaw. “Without Amy on the grill and giving directions, we could not keep up with the demand.”
Mashaw was exhausted from the beginning and they quickly lost a lot of regulars within the first few months. Most people that had worked for Brejwo had moved on to other things not long after she left.
Mashaw quickly found himself being very new to the job and having a whole set of new employees as well.
Outdoor dining option at B&D | Photo by Mackensie Judge
“We eventually found our own equilibrium, but at that point I was so in debt and could not pay any of my bills,” said Mashaw. “It was too late.”
Mashaw learned a lot of lessons through this experience that he will take with him going forward.
“I wanted to be my own boss for so long,” said Mashaw,” but what I didn’t think through was how hard it is being everyone else’s as well.”
The closing of B&D came as a shock to most students leaving them questioning if there was anything they could have done to help.
“My friends and I would go every weekend,” said senior Leanna Daniels. “Saturday mornings will never be the same. We should have done more to help such a great business with the nicest people.”
Others will miss the family oriented atmosphere and the delicious sandwiches, especially the most popular sandwich, the Randwich.
“Throughout my five years of attending Quinnipiac, B&D was one of my top places to go for food,” said graduate student Christian Casagranda. “Everything was fresh and made with care, which is something you don’t find too often around here.”
B&D has been bought by two men, Dennis and Dan and will soon be called Funcle’s. It will still remain a diner that serves breakfast and lunch, but it will be more upscale food.
As for Mashaw, he plans on taking the lessons he’s learned back to the classroom in the fall. In the meantime he is catching up on his housework and reading, but he is hopeful that Funcle’s will be the new successful business in the area.