Via Community News Service, a VTSU-Castleton internship, for the Rutland Herald
WALLINGFORD — For Todd Smith, owner of Hotty’s Eats & Catering, it was a dream to open his own restaurant. He said he began taking college courses at the age of 18 and from then on, his dream started to become reality. Now, Smith has added a much-needed reason to visit Wallingford, according to residents.
Hotty’s offers everything from pizzas and sandwiches to catered meals, including Southern barbecue and classic Italian favorites. The restaurant offers flexible catering options from buffet and family-style to individually plated, serving birthdays, corporate events and weddings.
Smith opened Hotty’s in January 2024 after having worked food trucks with his children.
“I went to New York City as a chef, and Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, and then I moved back 10 years ago and got food trucks with my kids,” he said. “And then we turned it into this.”
Before opening his own restaurant, Smith said he worked with Konstantin “Stanti” Schonbachler, owner of the Victorian Inn in Wallingford, for three years before being sent to Switzerland for an apprenticeship opportunity.
Schonbachler said they experienced a lot together when Smith worked with him. Smith was Schonbachler’s first employee at the Victorian Inn.
“He was probably the first one we had here. No, not probably. He was the first one,” he said.
Daniel Schonbachler, Stanti’s son, said Smith was overqualified for the business he runs at this point. He said he felt it was unfair that Smith could not attract more attention, noting a town ordinance adopted in 2016 that limited the size of signs.
“One of my biggest problems with this whole thing is the town doesn’t allow him to advertise,” he said. “He can’t even put out a bigger sign, so it’s tough for him to get people in.”
Daniel Schonbachler said the Victorian Inn was able to have a large sign out front because they were “grandfathered into the whole thing.”
But Stanti Schonbachler said Hotty’s is just fine the way it is, and that its food is the only advertisement it needs.
“(The) advertising is they have good food,” he said. “That’s what it is. People come anyway.”
Kevin Vaughn, a member of the Wallingford Rescue Squad’s board of directors, said the restaurant provides a huge service to the town of Wallingford and its residents.
“I feel that Hotty’s has given a lot of different food options to the Wallingford community at affordable prices, which is a huge benefit to the townspeople,” he said.
Vaughn said Hotty’s catered a dinner that was a huge hit with the rescue department.
“I have tried their barbecue, pulled pork, chicken parmigiana and their oven-roasted potatoes,” he said. “That was a huge hit at our rescue squad members’ appreciation dinner.”
Stanti Schonbachler said he thinks Hotty’s will continue to do well in Wallingford because there are not many other options for good, quality food.
“We need something like that. That’s what it is,” he said. “Right now, we have our (Inn), of course, and the breakfast place here.”
Smith said he has big plans, and shows no signs of slowing down.
“We’re putting in a bar,” Smith said. “We’re going to have beer and wine soon.”
He said he plans to open the bar in early March, and wants to incorporate karaoke and trivia nights at some point.
Smith also said he plans to open a restaurant in another location soon.
“We’re also opening another place at the airport,” he said. “It’s going to be called The Runway.”
But according to Stanti Schonbachler, Smith is on the right track, especially with the help of his kids.
He said Smith has always stuck with his passion, and it seems to have paid off.
“He was here in the beginning, and he learned it, and stuck with it,” he said. “And that’s what it’s all about.”
Hotty’s Eats is located at 137 N. Main St. (next to the post office). Hours are Wednesday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday-Sat. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday noon to 7 p.m.