Ben Skiadas is a busy man.
At 42, he owns The Lot Food Truck Park and Events Center, 900 E. Fourth St.; Lure Seafood & Grille, The Famous Bistro and the Lure Smoke Shack food truck.
And now, he’s adding Benski’s Italian Comfort Street Style to the mix.
“We’re launching it in March as a fresh pasta concept with salads and sandwiches,” Skiadas said Tuesday.
It will be open at The Lot Food Truck Park for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday, he said.
Benski’s will also deliver food, Skiadas said.
The Smoke Shack will move into catering full time, he said.
It will be more affordable for large catering events, Skiadas said.
He said Benski’s will open during Burger Week — March 5-14 — selling only burgers.
Then, it will transition into Italian cuisine, offering carryout and delivery.
Skiadas said he’s been thinking about an Italian food truck since Niko’s burned at The Springs a year ago.
And his aunt and cousins, who owned the restaurant, decided not to reopen.
“This won’t be Niko’s,” Skiadas said. “But it will be good, affordable Italian cuisine.”
Benski’s is starting as a food truck.
But Skiadas is already thinking brick-and-mortar and keeping an eye out for a building.
He said several food trucks are now using The Lot as a location for reaching customers.
“We’re excited about this new opportunity,” Skiadas said.
Benski’s has a huge menu for a food truck.
There’s 30 layer lasagna, baked pasta, chicken parmesan, hoagies and other sandwiches, toasted ravioli, garlic bread, cannoli and scratch-made sauces among other things.
Skiadas said he’s able to do so much because “I have a great team and a great family.”
His parents, George and Nancy Skiadas, opened The Famous Bistro downtown on June 1, 1993.
Ben Skiadas grew up working there with Greek, Mediterranean and Italian food.
And he took over when his parents retired.
The family opened The Lure in early 2014.
Dining and Cooking