Coach Hopes To Score

With Sports-Themed Deli

Opened since April 1, Coach’s Deli & Baked Goods in Sandy Hook Center is serving up breakfast and lunch for eat in or takeout on a daily basis.

Owner/manager Robert Frangione is a familiar face in Newtown. In addition to working for the Newtown Post Office for a decade — handling a route that included Church Hill Road, Commerce Road, and Queen Street as well as heading up the post office’s annual food drives — he has also coached local Babe Ruth Baseball, Pop Warner Football, and travel basketball teams for seven years.

In and around the deli business since he began working in his parents’ shop at the age of 10, “Coach” Frangione has long dreamed of owning his own business. Encouraged by his wife Elise to follow his dream, he decided to do so as he faced 40 last spring.

“I wanted to create a warm, friendly, comfortable space where people could pick up something fast, or linger over a cup of coffee or tea,” said Mr Frangione. “I especially wanted a place where the kids would come.”

In creating his sports-themed décor, which includes framed signed sports jerseys, autographed picture plaques of Hall of Famers, team pennants, and related paraphernalia, Mr Frangione gives lots of space to Newtown’s school-aged athletes. In one front corner is a “Nighthawks Wall of Fame” featuring team pictures and trophies. A banner in the front window congratulates the varsity girls’ and boys’ soccer teams for their state championships. Other team pictures and trophies are displayed around the interior. “I want our local athletes to look up to each other as well as the pros,” he explained.

The Nighthawks logo and a football player near the entry were painted by Ali Hornak.

Rob Frangione and his wife Elise moved to Newtown 12 years ago; they have two sons, Robert, 11, and Troy, 7, and everyone helps at the deli. “I couldn’t do this without their support and participation,” he said emphatically. “Elise has been incredible in so many ways.”

He also noted the contribution of his staff of six — Michelle, Pete, Jessica, Patty, Rob D, and Jill, who does a lot of the baking.  “Running the deli has been a group effort, and I want to acknowledge all they do,” he added.

“I love this town,” he continued, “and I find it exciting to be part of the nice community that is developing in Sandy Hook Center, where people can come, walk around, and run their errands.”

Coach’s Deli & Baked Goods opens at 5 am Monday through Saturday and at 6 am on Sunday. From December through March, closing time is 5 pm weekdays, 4 on Saturday, and 2 on Sunday. Hours will expand in the spring.

Breakfast offerings include egg and meat or egg, meat, and cheese sandwiches, $1.85 and $2, respectively, as well as a selection of homemade donuts, pastries, and bagels, 70 cents to $1.50. Whole baked goods for purchase include cakes, pies, and “New York style” bread.

A variety of sandwiches are made with Boar’s Head meats, and are available on bread or hard rolls ($3.99–$4.75) or as grinders ($5.75–$6.99). There are also sports named specialty sandwiches, such as Coach’s Grand Slam (ham, cappicola, Genoa salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil and vinegar), $5.99 on hard roll, $6.99 grinder; and Coach’s Touch Down, roast beef and coleslaw on rye bread, $4.99, and daily specials.

Newtown High School students and staff can show their ID cards and get a discount.

Homemade soups and “mama coach’s meatballs” — Mr Frangione’s mother stops in regularly to make meatballs — are also popular, as are the “to-go” lunches for kids, comprised of a sandwich, juice box, and small bag of chips.

Green Mountain regular and flavored coffees are available at a self-serve coffee counter in the center of the eating area, and cold cases holding soft drinks, diary products, and eggs line one wall. “We sell local eggs and Marcus dairy products,” Mr Frangione said. One item often sold in delis is not, however, sold at Coach’s –– cigarettes. “To do so would be in conflict with the environment we are trying to create,” he noted.

In the eat-in area, a TV set is generally tuned to ESPN, but if the mother-and-child crowd is taking a break between errands, the channel is switched to cartoons.

The family-oriented business is evolving, and various special activities will take place. For the upcoming holiday, a house made of chocolate is being raffled, with the winning entry to be drawn on December 23. In January a paid admission Friday night (6 to 8) at the movies (sports themed, of course), will be initiated, geared toward children.

Coach’s also does catering, offering trays of pasta, poultry, and other hot dishes as well as salads and platters featuring cold cuts, cheese, or veggies.

Coach’s Deli & Baked Goods, 102 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook Center; 270-8161, fax, 426-3692. Open seven days a week, Monday–Saturday from 5 am, Sunday from 6 am.