He’s ten years old, fast on his feet, and spends most of his free time at soccer practices and tournaments.  And when he’s not on a field somewhere, he can be found at Kaptein’s, eating a sandwich and cheering on his dad.

“I’ve been coming here since forever,” he said.  “My favorite is the bacon, egg, and cheese.  And the people here.  They’re friendly and stuff.”

He started playing soccer at an early age and now practices Monday through Friday, with games on weekends and big tournaments including one coming up in Tampa.  And his favorite player?

“Messi…for all of his skills and speed.”

In between all the soccer talk, the conversation wandered to Luis’s pancakes, his Oma’s love of bread and butter at Thanksgiving, and what Kaptein’s means to him.  Does it feel like family?

He smiled then nodded vigorously.  

What does he want people to know about his favorite deli?  

“That it’s really good. The food…and everybody here.”

He comes to Kaptein’s often during the summer, and when asked if he sees himself working here someday, he shrugged, then grinned. “Yeah…”

His story is simple but golden: joy, family, big dreams, and his dad’s deli … a place that has always felt like home.

“My house here has been my home since 1946.  It was built in 1874 and the barn behind it went up in 1900.  Back then, there were stables in my backyard and even a swamp that stretched all the way to Main Street before they built Danbury Commons.  I now have fish in my backyard.  I enjoy wildlife and nature.

I come keeping coming back to Kaptein’s because the staff is friendly and outgoing, and I enjoy meeting other people and hearing their stories.

Thank you for making the best food around!”

“At Kaptein’s, it’s not only an eatery…it’s an adventure.  Why?  Because I’m here!”

“I’ve been doing this a long time.  I’m just the garbage man…but I’ve got people that wait for me every week.  If I don’t give them fifteen or twenty minutes, they get upset.  I call them my groupies.  

I had this customer, Iris, who recently passed away.  She was 96.  Every Thursday, she’d come out and give me Hershey chocolates.  I’d sit with her by the front door and talk.  On Sundays, I’d go to Walmart and buy Iris the little snack pack puddings and Ovaltine.  She liked to make her own whipped cream, so I’d get her the heavy cream, too.  She and her family were just nice people.

During COVID, I had people come out and tell me they hadn’t talked to anyone in months.  I was the only person they’d seen.  And that’s the thing…we don’t talk anymore.  Kids don’t know how to have a conversation.  People don’t interact.  But here at Kaptein’s, you pull up a stool and people actually talk to you.  You get all walks of life. It’s great energy.”

“With social media and our phones, I feel like our kids don’t even know how to have a conversation anymore.  You go out to dinner and no one’s talking…the parents are on their phones, the kids are on their devices.  We’ve lost the dinner table.  If parents don’t talk to their kids, teach them kindness, guide them – how can we expect those kids to know how to treat others?

We don’t talk enough like this anymore — real conversations, face-to-face. But maybe we can start again.”

“I’ve been coming here about five or six years. My brother brought me. My first meal was just a bacon, egg, and cheese.

I feel like I’m home every time I come here. It’s great.

I’ve known Will for a long time. He’s a really good friend of mine. He helps me out a lot… he’s a great guy.

I hope this place is here forever. It’s great. It’s what Danbury needs. I hope people just come out here and enjoy it, at least give it a try.”

-Ali Feliz
Professional Boxer

“How did the hamburger introduce his girlfriend?”

“Meat Patty”