Photo by John Lynch / SOC Images.
In 2025, one of Bayonne’s most famous landmarks, Benanti’s Italian Delicatessen, celebrated 50 years of business.
Patrons flock to the deli to enjoy its authentic Italian flavor. Since the store opened, over 90 percent of products in the store are imported directly from Italy, including meats and cheeses.
The deli is owned and operated by the always cheerful Ciro “Charlie” Benanti, who has been personally serving his customers since 1975. He told Slice of Culture that he’s been having a great time celebrating his big achievement. According to Charlie, he would not be where he is today without his customers.
“I have really good customers, believe me,” he said. “I have people who have been coming for 50 years. Even people that live out of town now, they come back to see me years later.”
Charlie prides himself on the relationships he has built throughout the years, and he knows what his customers like.
“If you treat people well, people don’t leave you,” he said. “I have some customers that come in and say ‘make whatever you want,’ I have a lot of people like that.”
This year, Charlie was also recognized as the Italian Business Person of the year by the Italian Heritage Society. He was honored at the Bayonne Italian Heritage Parade where he celebrated with friends and family and was given a commemorative poster which documented how his business was started.
“It’s a feeling that you belong. I was reading this, and I was crying.
– Charlie said about the award.
It made me remember everything.”
Charlie also gave back to the community that day giving out cookies and sandwiches to customers.
Charlie is still very much in high spirits, saying he feels fantastic, just as he did when the store first opened.
When discussing the future, Charlie seems to be going with the flow, not too concerned about having any big plans, especially after such a big year.
“The future nobody knows, I don’t think about it.”
Benanti’s Italian Delicatessen is located at 16 West 22nd Street in Bayonne, and is open seven days a week.
One Response
it is a great friendly please
great food
great atmosphere
we worked at Barri Supply in JC and we would order sandwiches, rolls, bread and food from here ,,it was always the best .. we looked forward to it