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June 19, 2019

Put a fork in Spooner’s — it’s Barbarossa to you, pal

PHOTO | New Haven Biz Not many three-year-olds have a business named for them. But Barbaros Gokkiyas — seen here with parents Volkan and Burcu Gokkiyas at the grand opening of the family’s Barbarossa Pizza & Kebabs Tuesday afternoon — is a notable exception. (Besides, who would want to name their little boy “Spooner”?)
By Michael C. Bingham

The former Spooner’s Restaurant on Whalley Ave. in Westville has a new home, a new menu — and a new namesake.

Mayor Toni N. Harp did the ribbon-cutting honors Tuesday afternoon for the new Barbarossa Pizza & Kebabs at 1460 Whalley Ave., a 2,200-square-foot storefront that previously housed a Bruegger’s Bagels. The restaurant is named for three-year-old Barbaros Gokkiyas, son of owners Volkan and Burco Gokkiyas.

Relocated from 1400 Whalley, Spooner’s Pizza first opened its doors in the 1960s. It was acquired by the Gokkiyas family about 15 years ago and recently relocated when a larger space became available. Barbarossa had a “soft” opening two weeks ago, said Volkan Gokkiyas, and patrons have responded warmly to the new location — and the new menu.

The Gokkiyases have expanded the eatery’s offerings by adding breakfast and augmenting the menu with kebabs and other Turkish fare.

“This is an exciting moment for us and for the neighborhood,” said Volkan Gokkiyas. “We believe that by offering these delicious new cuisines to our customers, we are going to make the great city of New Haven even greater.”

Harp praised the restaurant as a “healthy, delicious and first-rate addition to New Haven’s gourmet food offerings from around the world.

“Small businesses are the backbone of New Haven’s economy,” Harp added. “They use local suppliers, hire local workers and for the most part keep dollars circulating in our local economy.”

The new Barbarossa is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and until midnight on weekends.

Contact Michael C. Bingham at mbingham@newhavenbiz.com

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