Melanie Espinal Photo
Burcu, Barbarossa, 3, and Volkan Gokkiyas, Mayor Toni Harp, and Alders Hacibey Catalbasoglu and Richard Furlow.
Like his father before him, Volkan Gokkiyas named his newest restaurant, Barbarossa Pizza & Kebabs, after his son.
Gokkiyas, who was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, was brought up in his family’s restaurant. He then went on to own and manage Spooner’s Pizza, a family business on Whalley Avenue.
After serving as the owner and manager for 15 years, Gokkiyas closed down Spooner’s and has now opened a larger restaurant just a block away on 1460 Whalley Ave., inside the former Bruegger Bagels.
Gokkiyas, his wife Burcu and son Barbarossa, 3, were accompanied by Mayor Toni Harp, Alders Richard Furlow and Hacibey Catalbsoglu, economic development staffers and visitors on Tuesday to cut the ceremonial ribbon on the new restaurant.
Harp said Barbarossa will be “adding to New Haven’s gourmet menu of delicious food from around the world” before trying his hummus, stuffed grape leaves and eggplant.
Furlow recalled his family eating pizza at Spooner’s for the last 30 years.
Gokkiyas has utilized many of the same interior elements of the former Bruegger’s, which closed 18 months ago. Updates include a new cooking line, including a charcoal grill, shawarma machine, and steam table for to-go styled food.
Gokkiyas’ landlord told him the location, which is near the Merritt/Wilbur Cross, has 65,000 cars passing by daily.
Harp said businesses like his are most likely to hire local talent and have their proceeds circulate locally. “Small businesses like this one are the backbone of New Haven’s economy,” she said.
Gokkiyas said he hired two new chefs, four wait staff and one more dishwasher, and worked with Marrakech, an organization that provides residential employment and support to individuals with disabilities.
Burcu Gokkiyas introduces items of the Barbarossa menu to Mayor Toni Harp.
Finding chefs was hard at first, according to Burcu Gokkiyas, Volkan’s wife. She said many good quality Turkish chefs either work in New York or New Jersey. But they were able to find two, and fill a gap in Turkish cuisine that is apparent to Burcu in the Westville community.
The Gokkiyas family chose to move because their old location posed many problems for them in terms of parking. The move also allows them to explore the expansion of their pizza menu to include Turkish and breakfast food.
While owning a business in New Haven has its own unique problems, Gokkiyas, who lives in Westville, said he loves New Haven.
“I’m hoping neighbors and friends will support our journey and new adventure with us,” Gokkiyas said.