By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Manville resident Darrell Delnero, owner of Happy Daze Luncheonette on South Main Street, has one thing that sets his business apart from others all fresh homemade foods.
”We have no frozen patties,” said Mr. Delnero of his business that serves only in-house cooked breakfast and lunch meals, including fresh meat for cheese steaks, hamburgers, chicken cheese steaks and other items. “And we have fresh cut french fries from potatoes. We are the only place in the area that does that.”
After taking over the South Main Street space formerly owned by Bea’s Luncheonette in November, Mr. Delnero opened Happy Daze Luncheonette early this month in what he calls the “perfect location.”
”This was a previous luncheonette, so it’s perfect,” he said. “People just don’t realize we’re open.”
Although word of the March 2 opening may not have reached the entire town yet, Mr. Delnero said they have been getting great business and are becoming familiar with those who come in for food almost every day.
”We know about (75 percent) of the people who come in here,” he said. “They get addressed by their first names. It’s nice when you can start the day that way.”
According to the luncheonette’s chef, Brian Bishkoff, also a local resident, people have been enjoying the food at the luncheonette, which serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, as well as Sunday beginning this weekend.
”The response has been excellent,” he said. “We have repeat customers every day.”
Much of these repeat visits, Mr. Bishkoff said, are because of the food, which, except for the pastries, is cooked on the premises every day, with everything from homemade sauces for buffalo wings, to a chicken cordon bleu sandwich special and a different kind of soup each day.
”This is the little town luncheonette, with breakfast and lunch both served from opening until closing,” he said. In the future, he said, he would like to look into different breakfast specials to offer with the lunch ones, and, in the summer, they are planning to have root beer floats and malted milk shakes.
In addition, Mr. Bishkoff said, he welcomes suggestions from customers about items they would like to see added to the menu in the future.
”We have a great quality of food,” he said.
Aside from the food, Mr. Bishkoff said, he believes the fact that both he and Mr. Delnero and their waitress Celeste Ulicny all live in Manville, adds to the appeal of the luncheonette.
”It makes people more willing to come,” he said.
”And we keep everything local (with food purchases) to help fellow businesses,” Mr. Delnero added.
Although Mr. Delnero said he already owns his own home repair business, he always wanted to open a luncheonette. Even with the way the economy is now, he said, he thought this would be the best time to move forward with the plans.
”With the economy the way it is, people still have to eat,” he said, adding that, despite businesses closing all over, the luncheonette is going strong. “Our prices are reasonable.”
On the entire menu, Mr. Bishkoff said, there is nothing that costs more than $7.
Once he decided to open the business, Mr. Delnero said, he found Mr. Bishkoff, who joined in on the venture as the chef. “(Hours later) people would still be waiting for their food if I was cooking,” Mr. Delnero said with a laugh.
Mr. Bishkoff, who has been in the restaurant business for about 20 years, says he loves doing all the cooking for the luncheonette.
”I studied commercial foods when I was at (Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School, in Bridgewater),” he said. “I’m the guy who goes to work and gets to say he always enjoys what he does.”
Although the luncheonette has been open for only about two weeks, Mr. Delnero said he has big plans for renovations of the space to present a 1950s theme. He said he is hoping to bring in a checkerboard floor, and ‘50s-style colors throughout.
”Times were easier then and people were friendlier,” he said. “I want customers to be able to reminisce about their childhoods. That’s the atmosphere we want.”
Even the name of the luncheonette itself, Mr. Delnero said, is meant to be in line with this decade theme.
”But I came up with a different spelling because I didn’t want to copy the television show,” he said.
In keeping with the theme, Mr. Bishkoff said, they are hoping to hold a grand opening in the summer with a 1950s classic car show appeal, and possibly an outdoor barbecue.
With the combination of freshly made food and quality service, Mr. Delnero and Mr. Bishkoff said they believe they can be a success.
”We want to feel like we knew everyone forever,” Mr. Delnero said. “We are about customer care and quality.”
The luncheonette is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beginning March 22, it will be open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, call the luncheonette at 908-575-0404.

