A Heartfelt Look Back and Toward the Future

The Brooklyn Delicatessen’s third anniversary is a time of reflection and thankfulness for its owner, Jimmy Barney. 

Opened in October of 2021, the restaurant is known for serving the types of pizza and submarine sandwiches traditionally found in the New York City borough from which he hails. Prepared Italian dishes, soups, sides and salads are also calling cards for the small, N. Collier Boulevard eatery. 

Low-key, unpretentious and affable, Barney is a constant presence at the deli. And he’s quick to express appreciation for the customers who’ve been the bedrock of the business’ success. 

“We're happy to say that things have been extremely busy thanks to the people on Marco Island - our locals, our vacationers, all the people that have supported us throughout the years,” said the Lely Resort resident.

The Brooklyn Deli is the second chapter of Barney’s Marco Island restaurant ownership tale. The story began in 1997 when he opened The Italian Deli and Market, which was purchased by current Marco Island City Counselor Jared Grifoni in 2018. 

Barney had retirement in mind when he sold that business, now located off Park Avenue, but originally operating from the same South Seas Plaza space now occupied by the Brooklyn Deli. 

After a few years, Barney, now 72, found living a life of leisure to be boring. 

“I love taking care of people and I've been in this business since I'm 14 years old,” he explained. “After I sold the Italian Deli, I decided, after three years, that staying home is not for me. I still owned the unit, so I came back as The Brooklyn Deli.”

The return has been bittersweet for Barney and his wife Susan. Their only daughter, also named Susan, passed away in April in Brooklyn after a four-year-long battle with cancer. The couple was considering moving but ultimately decided to remain in this area.

During his time as a Marco restaurateur, Barney has catered a multitude of large, important functions on the island, including one featuring a decidedly non-Italian main course of corned beef and cabbage for a 500-person St. Patrick’s Day celebration. 

“It’s been a wonderful environment to live in and raise children, and to take care of the people that came in here, he observed. “I’ve lost a lot of quality customers through death and sickness, and taking care of them was my greatest pleasure.” 

Barney’s appreciation of the community and its people has inspired him to such acts as donating 40 complimentary sandwiches to feed city Fire and Rescue Department personnel. 

“I try to take care of people on this island,” he said. “That's my reputation. Giving good people good food at reasonable prices, that's how I’ve existed here.”

A few menu additions will be available daily. Pasta options will now include a New York City favorite, cheese ravioli made by the Pastosa company. 

He’s also happy to see his brother Johnny return to helping with the business. 

Barney closed by taking a moment to thank the loyal customers who’ve patronized his restaurants over the years.

“Every single person - vacationer, snowbird, regular passerby, I thank you very much for giving us the opportunity, all these years, to take care of you. That's very makes us very happy.”

The Brooklyn Delicatessen is located at 247 N. Collier Boulevard. The hours of operation are 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The deli is closed on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, please visit thebrooklyndelicatessen.com or call 239-970-0046.