Restaurant Revisited: Good Food, Bad Vices at Benner Street

Related To:

Benner Street

Photo by: 0 ©0

0, 0

Faced with a mountain of debt, Dorothy and Thom Williams, husband-and-wife owners of Benner Street restaurant in Bethlehem, Pa., were unsure if they would see their retirement if the dire situation at their business didn't improve. They looked to Robert Irvine and his Restaurant: Impossible team to give their eatery the second chance it deserves, and when Robert arrived, he soon realized the root of Benner Street's problems: its bickering owners, to start, plus its drab interior and poorly stocked bar. With just two days to work and a budget of $10,000, Robert helped Dorothy and Thom learn how to effectively manage a staff while he overhauled the restaurant's design and revamped its menu. FN Dish checked in with Dorothy a few months after Benner Street's reopening to find out how her business is doing today.

"Business is up 40 percent," Dorothy says. "All the employees and family are excited about our new beginning and all are working toward our success."

In terms of the transformed interior, Dorothy tells FN Dish, "People are enjoying the new decor."

The Benner Street menu is now a mix of Robert's offerings and "some of the old favorites" from before the remodeling, according to Dorothy. This update came as a result of longtime customers missing particular dishes.

Dorothy now says, "I do delegate a lot more, but I still expect perfection." She admits she and Thom still argue. But, she insists, "Arguing is part of our life — that doesn't mean we don't love each other." Thom's health has not improved since the show, and Dorothy tells us "he has taken some time away from work," like Robert suggested.

Looking back on her Restaurant: Impossible journey, Dorothy explains, "This experience was one of the hardest things we ever experienced as … business owner[s] and for our family." But she advises fellow restaurateurs who may be facing similar struggles: "Don't be afraid of change."

More from Restaurant Revisited:

Kalico Kitchen (July 14)
Angelo's (June 23)
Bryan's Smokehouse (May 26)
Smitty's Restaurant (April 28)
Soup to Nuts Diner (March 17)
Caseyville Cafe (March 13)
Dinner Bell Restaurant (February 27)
Sapori D'Italia (January 23)
Windseeker Restaurant (January 16)
Rising Sun Bistro (December 19)
Bronk's Bar and Grill (December 5)
Rohrer's Tavern (November 28)
Poco's on the Boulevard (November 21)
Oleander Bar and Grill (October 17)
Valley Inn (October 10)
Whistle Stop (October 3)
The Maple Tree Cafe (September 26)
Michele's (September 19)
Paliani's Restaurant (September 12)
Frankie's (September 5)
Gusanoz (August 29)

Next Up

Restaurant Revisited: Bad JuJu at The JuJu Bag

Find out how The JuJu Bag is doing after its transformation on Restaurant: Impossible.

Restaurant Revisited: Windseeker Restaurant

Find out how Windseeker Restaurant is doing after their Restaurant: Impossible renovation with Food Network's Robert Irvine.

Restaurant Revisited: Paliani’s Restaurant

We checked in with the owner of Paliani's to see how the restaurant is doing after their Restaurant Impossible renovation with Food Network's Robert Irvine.

Restaurant Revisited: Stella's

We checked in with the Savoies a few months later to see how business is going.

Restaurant Revisited: Barolo

In Aptos, Calif., Robert and the Restaurant: Impossible team faced the daunting task of turning things around at Ristorante Barolo.

Restaurant Revisited: Cocoamoda

Find out how Cocoamoda is doing after its transformation on Restaurant: Impossible.

Restaurant Revisited: Michele’s

We checked in with the owner of Michele's to see how the restaurant is doing after their Restaurant Impossible renovation with Food Network's Robert Irvine.

Restaurant Revisited: Zandi's

A few months after their emotional Restaurant: Impossible makeover, we checked in with Evette and Yvonne to see how business is going.

Restaurant Revisited: Pappas

Robert’s latest mission brought him to Pappas, a family-owned Greek restaurant in Benicia, Calif. Feuding brothers, a drab interior and lackluster food were leading this business toward extinction.

Restaurant Revisited: Pollard's

We checked in with owners Tarrance and Torria Pollard to see how business is going after their Restaurant: Impossible intervention.