Cowboy hats and “Danny’s Way” potatoes were back at The Big E this year.
A year after the unexpected death of Danny Bell, the beloved owner of Bell’s Smokehouse Grill, the potato vendor returned to the side of the Connecticut building on the fairgrounds.
Bell, who brought his famed barbecue pork to the fair for over 20 years, died unexpectedly at his home on June 22, 2023, according to his obituary.
Fairgoers in 2023 were disappointed to find his booth vacant on the side of the Connecticut building. A large banner honored Bell’s memory, but questions remained about whether the loaded baked potatoes would return without its longtime leader.
Danny Bell, the famous potato vendor outside the Connecticut Building at The Big E who died on June 22. Photo by Heather Morrison
Former employees, including general manager Jon Treybal, decided to continue Bell’s legacy and bring back the booth this year with the blessing of his wife, Eileen.
“Danny turned this into a real wonderful destination point,” Treybal said last week.
Even Treybal, who worked for Bell since 1998, feared Bell’s Smokehouse Grill had served up its last pulled pork.
Two of Bell’s restaurants closed in Connecticut after his death, but employees are working to re-open at a new location soon.
Luckily, many of Bell’s employees remained. Bell’s tried and true recipes, inspired by Southern cuisine, continued to attract loyal customers.
“Danny taught me well so I just tried to duplicate how he would handle it,” Treybal said.
“He’s like a father to me,” he added. “I don’t want to sound cliché, but I used to talk to him about everything.”
Bell’s Smokehouse Grill returned to the Big E this season after a year’s hiatus due to the owner’s passing in 2023.Luis Fieldman
Ron Brooks, who worked with Bells for eight years, said that Bell was a “one-of-a-kind guy.”
“We all miss him,” Brooks said. “Everything we know about this place, Danny taught us.”
The booth employs about 30 people during the 17-day-long fair. The Big E, one of the nation’s largest fairs, attracts hundreds of thousands of people on its busiest of days.
There are buildings representing each state in New England, and for two decades, the Connecticut building became known for its loaded baked potatoes.
“Danny’s Way” potatoes are loaded with butter, sour cream, bacon, and chives plus the options of broccoli and cheese, pulled pork, or chili. ($20)
Other options at the booth include a cup of chili ($5), a cup of pulled pork ($5), a hot dog ($7), and a chili cheese dog ($10).
Bell’s Smokehouse Grill returned to the Big E this season after a year’s hiatus due to the owner’s passing in 2023.Luis Fieldman
On a cloudy Wednesday morning, employees at Bell’s Smokehouse Grill were scooping pulled pork and customers were taking advantage of the early hours and beating the crowd.
Every time someone left a tip, the employees would ring a loud bell and let out a loud “Yeehaw.”
Treybal looked towards his co-workers, dressed in cowboy hats and wearing matching black shirts printed with a covered wagon — the booth’s logo.
“We don’t want to let him down,” Treybal said.
