Zuppaman flies into Sandusky Plaza

SANDUSKY — A local restauranteur's new sandwich and soup shop is open for business. Benny Vito Pruitt and Dave Zahniser opened Zuppaman restaurant in June at the Sandusky Plaza on Cleveland Road. The name comes from the Italian word for soup, "zuppa."Vito, a 1985 St. Mary's Central Catholic graduate, is an experienced restaurant owner having operated The Thirsty Pony, the Twine House, Benny Vito's and Demma's."I just enjoy cooking and I've been doing it for 40 years," Vito said.His latest venture came about after George Sortino, Sandusky Plaza's owner, contacted him to see if he would be interested in opening a restaurant in a vacant tenant spot.Benny Vito Pruitt stands in front of Zuppaman, the restaurant he opened with Dave Zahniser at the Sandusky Plaza on Cleveland Road, on Tuesday, Aug. 27."I normally opened Italian restaurants, but one look at this place and I knew it was a sandwich shop," Vito said. "Then the idea formed in my head for a soup, salad and sandwich restaurant."The menus choices were inspired by Vito's life experience as a diabetic. He had to change his diet but he figured he didn't need to sacrifice good food if he used the right ingredients and seasoning.They wanted to pay tribute to the city, so they decorated the interior of the restaurant with memorabilia and photos of Sandusky, including East Side Cafe, Dairy Frost, the dive rescue team Zahniser's father started and more.Vito also endeavored to hire the right people for the restaurant who would put customer service at the forefront. Employees are trained to work in the kitchen, the cash register, open and close."I can teach anything in the restaurant business except personality that's why I try to hire the right people," Vito said. "We've got a great staff and we've become like a family."Vito wanted to create an environment that his employees and customers would enjoy coming to and he appears to have succeeded because since opening the reception has been overwhelmingly positive."Sandusky has given us so much love," Vito said. "Most of our customers have been locals and they've been kind with the reviews and just as we try to take care of them, they've taken care of us."Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterBenny Vito Pruitt and Dave Zahniser opened Zuppaman, a restaurant specializing in soups, salads and sandwiches, in the Sandusky Plaza on Cleveland Road.Benny Vito Pruitt and Dave Zahniser opened Zuppaman, a restaurant specializing in soups, salads and sandwiches, in the Sandusky Plaza on Cleveland Road.Benny Vito Pruitt and Dave Zahniser opened Zuppaman, a restaurant specializing in soups, salads and sandwiches, in the Sandusky Plaza on Cleveland Road.