ENTERTAINMENT

Demand is high in Delaware for Arena's Cafes

Hannah Carroll

hcarroll2@dmg.gannett.com

It's 2016, and times are changing for Arena's.

For the last decade, the restaurant chain has taken Delaware by storm, expanding across the state with seven separate locations.

In a surprise twist, Arena's Milford location will likely become the company's most successful store by the end of summer, surpassing the original deli in Rehoboth Beach.

"We never saw that coming," said Ramsey Schrader, one of Arena's managing partners, noting how quickly it has become a town sensation. "Business has been booming since we opened the doors three years ago."

The Milford spot exudes the fast-casual vibe Arena's is known for, with a large, wrap-around bar at the heart of the restaurant.

The family-friendly, sports-centric location offers nearly 90 local and specialty craft beers, a private banquet hall and a newly added patio with fresh landscaping, cornhole boards and custom-made fire pits.

Arena's may have underestimated Milford's potential, but it has not failed to capitalize on it, he said. After all, the company has not earned nearly three decades of success merely by accident.

Arena's Cafe's California Club Dude: Turkey, avocado, Montery Jack cheese, sprouts, tomatoes and mayo on whole wheat bread.

Humble beginnings

Arena's got its start in Delaware in 1990, when Paul Arena opened a small deli in downtown Rehoboth Beach.

He sold it a year later to Charlie Helmer and Jeff Hamer, who ran the popular sandwich shop until 2005, when they quietly put it up for sale.

At the time, Schrader was working as a real estate agent. While pulling listings for a client, one in particular caught his eye. The description was vague, but he knew it was Arena's.

"I called my brother and told him we had to buy it," he said. "I had no idea how we were going to do it, I had no idea how we were going to get the money, but I told him we had to."

Schrader, a Lewes native, admitted he always had a soft spot for Arena's. He and his brother, Andrew Schrader, had worked there for years.

"We didn't want anyone else to have it," he said.

The brothers and their friends, Vitaliy Deyak and Paul Kuhns, rallied together to make the hefty purchase.

The following year, they acquired their Lewes location. In 2007, they opened a second Rehoboth store on Coastal Highway next to Big Fish Grill.

Each expansion was a risk, but too great of an opportunity to pass up, he said.

The young entrepreneurs, each about 35 years old, expanded the Arena's name to Long Neck in 2010, and Georgetown and Milford in 2013. They moved north in 2014, opening a store in the heart of downtown Newark.

"It all happened because I saw that listing — definitely had been in the right place at the right time," he said. "It's kind of funny though. I thought I was done with the restaurant industry when I went into real estate. But I guess you can say it made me a 'lifer.'"

Arena's death fries, topped with melted cheese, bacon, ranch and barbecue sauce.

Why it's worked

As the company evolved over the years, Schrader and the other managing partners have been careful to preserve what the original restaurant was already famous for. Just like the early days on Rehoboth Avenue, Arena's offers friendly service, large portions and the tempting option to build your own sandwich.

"That's something that will never change," he said. "It's our signature."

The menu has grown with the company, now offering fresh cocktails, breakfast and items like loaded nachos, fish tacos, specialty sandwiches and death fries, smothered in melted cheese, bacon, ranch and barbecue sauce.

The Delaware restaurant chain has made an effort to maintain the feel of a small town restaurant, no matter the locale. And although each store offers something a little different, guests can expect the same great taste wherever they go.

"We wanted each location to have its own personality," he said. "But what has made us so successful has been our consistency, despite the differences."

Arena's, he said, has two executive bakers who make breads, pastries and desserts daily for the company. The Delaware restaurant chain also has a central salad prep station where homemade soups, salad dressings, crab cakes, tuna and shrimp salads are prepared fresh every morning, and then distributed to each store.

Few local businesses have flourished like Arena's, and Schrader said he is amazed at its growth over the past 11 years. Its food and service have earned a number of awards, as the company has prided itself on making customers feel like family.

There are currently no plans for any future locations, he said.

For now, the company intends to focus on its customers and the communities it serves. Arena's plans to host a number of upcoming charity events, such as its second annual Run the Goat 5k this August, which will benefit the Greater Milford Boys and Girls Club.

"None of this would be possible without our customers," he said. "We're grateful every day for their love and support. And we want them to know it."

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