Having grown up in the restaurant business, the owner of Novelty Eats says he’s always wanted to open his own place.

With Novelty Eats in Pelham Bay, Socrates Sellas now has an establishment to call his own.

He also used to own Novelty Nachos in Riverdale. 

"But there wasn't too much walking traffic, it wasn't giving me what I needed,” says Sellas.

His dad owned two big diners in Bedford Park, but that route wasn't for him. 

"I didn't want to become just another Greek diner guy. I wanted to create something for the new age,” says Sellas.

The hip, trendy eatery just opened a month ago, and the busy, fast-paced environment on Crosby Avenue is everything he's worked for.

The food options are also vast including a build-your-own homemade nachos dish to something sweeter like a milkshake.

They also feature menu items to satisfy vegans and vegetarians, including a 100% plant-based burger.

"My satisfaction... you see a customer come in here and enjoy their meal and get to know everyone by a first name basis. You know, sometimes, it's not all about the money... just walking down the street and the people knowing your name and say, 'Oh, that person owns Novelty Eats,' that's the joy I get,” says Sellas.