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In March 2020, diehard New York Islanders fan and Long Island native Donald Rosner opened Blue Line Deli in Huntington, NY. Growing up within the meals business and working for his household’s iconic enterprise, Bagel Boss, for nearly 25 years, Rosner developed a useful work ethic. From opening up in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to partnering with UBS Arena and fulfilling a lifelong dream, Rosner’s Blue Line Deli is constructing a legacy that prioritizes nice meals, hockey, and neighborhood.
The Dawn of an Islanders-Themed Deli
The phrase ‘when one door opens, another one closes’ could be cliche, however it rang true for Rosner only a few years in the past when his household determined to place the Bagel Boss retailer up on the market. With such a serious change occurring in his life, Rosner started reflecting on his profession working at his household’s store and what he wished his subsequent steps to be.
“My only hobby is hockey. I’ve been a diehard Islanders fan since I was a boy. I never had the opportunity to involve myself in hockey, such as playing. However, it dawned on me that I could still do what I do for a living and deck it out in Islanders memorabilia so I can include my love of hockey during the workday,” stated Rosner.
While his mom thought he was loopy, the seed had already been planted for Rosner who supposed to open Blue Line Deli in March 17, 2020, and that’s precisely what he did. Inspired by all issues hockey, the eagerness and persona Rosner infused within the house are instantly obvious; all 32 NHL staff logos hold on the wall with ready-to-order artistic hockey-themed menu gadgets like ‘The Zamboni’ and ‘The Five Hole.’
However, Blue Line Deli confronted an uphill battle as quickly as its grand opening, when New York introduced a state of emergency because of the unfold of COVID-19 only a few days earlier than. Yet, Rosner keep dedicated to his imaginative and prescient of not solely making a hockey-themed deli however of contributing to the neighborhood in a significant approach. In a fast pivot, he started donating meals to frontline staff and coordinating with longtime suppliers and charities to assist ship out water and bathroom paper to these in want. Meanwhile, on social media, Islanders followers caught wind of his deli and its good deeds and started supporting and praising Rosner’s tireless effort.
Getting the Attention of UBS Arena and Shaquille O’Neal
Over a yr into the pandemic, UBS Arena observed how essential Blue Line Deli was for Islanders followers and the Long Island neighborhood. In a full-circle second, the staff Rosner has been supporting since boyhood reached out to him a few partnership. “UBS Arena reached out to me if I was interested in partnering,” Rosner recalled. “Next thing I know, I am seeing our logo at UBS Arena, which is surreal. It’s awesome, it’s super special. In some way, I feel a part of the team, and that was the goal. My favorite part about it is the fans. We all are very passionate, care about the team.” It was then introduced that Blue Line Deli can be a concession choice simply in time for the season opener, together with their hockey-themed specials and festive blue and orange bagels.
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If seeing the Blue Line Deli brand at UBS Arena wasn’t surreal sufficient, partnering with Shaquille O’Neal’s fast-casual chain Big Chicken was positive to do the trick. When the world partnered with Big Chicken in 2021, they contacted Rosner to assist collaborate and construct their presence. The objective was to create a meals merchandise that was unapologetically New York that may very well be bought solely at UBS Arena. Together, they got here up with a sandwich named “The Islander,” that includes Big Chicken’s buffalo hen patty between Rosner’s well-known blue and orange bagel.
Building a Legacy on Long Island
The assist proven towards Blue Line Deli is rarely misplaced on Rosner. He attributes his deli’s success to the distinctive bond Islanders followers have with the staff and one another by all of the ups and downs. “This community is so tight-knit, outwardly open about the team, good or bad. Being a part of that in any way is a privilege,” stated Rosner. One of his fundamental objectives for opening up Blue Line was to spark dialog concerning the recreation, not simply the Islanders.
“I didn’t want to make people feel awkward at an Islanders-only deli. Every team logo is here. If you’re a fan of hockey you’re welcome here,” stated Rosner. Of course, since New York followers are passionate, there’s by no means a scarcity of chirping concerning the New York Rangers. Rosner stated it’s all good-natured enjoyable. “There’s a ton of Rangers fans who come in and bust our chops and vice versa. It’s always fun to talk to them, talk with Islanders fan, or truly any fan of any team,” he added.
Rosner’s pleasure about hockey is contagious, and he isn’t solely excited for what the long run holds for his beloved staff, but in addition for his enterprise. “After being in Huntington, I have big eyes and definitely want to expand. My uncle, who loves what we do and asked to partner with us, and it was far enough away that it ended up being perfect,” stated Rosner, who opened his second location in East Islip, NY, in 2021. With a 3rd location on the horizon, Rosner is constructing a legacy for his youngsters to be happy with, just like what his mother and father established.
With budding assist from the Islanders group and even an NBA legend, Rosner is doing all the things proper and wanting ahead to seeing how Blue Line Deli can proceed to immerse itself within the hockey world.
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