by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Most of the activity and points of interest Downtown are above street level, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing noteworthy below.
Benny and Sarah Bateh are about to celebrate their 25th anniversary for their sandwich shop downstairs at 121 W. Forsyth St. in the former Atlantic National Bank Building. Back in 1985, the Batehs opened Benny’s in what was originally a bank vault.
“When we came here there was only one other sandwich shop Downtown,” said Benny Bateh. “Now there are 25 of them within two blocks. Everybody wants to be Downtown.”
One of the things about being in the same location for so long and serving breakfast and lunch to Downtown workers has been the opportunity to follow so many regular customers’ careers. That includes one man who worked on the top floor of the building across the street that was the former headquarters of one of Jacksonville’s most well-known homegrown institutions, Barnett Banks Inc.
“We’ve been here long enough to watch people retire like Billy Barnett and all those guys,” said Bateh.
What began as a simple sandwich shop has evolved into more of a restaurant. The Batehs added a home-cooked lunch special of the day and serve a full breakfast. They also sell cards and gifts.
With 25 years of business experience, the Batehs have seen it all in terns of economic cycles and they’re in it for the long haul.
“Some years have been good, some years have been bad, but we have always ridden it out,” said Bateh.
Sarah Bateh said the key to being successful for 25 years has depended on understanding what people want and how they want to be treated.
“With so many other places people can eat Downtown, you have to have good food with good service and you have to be friendly,” she said.