Gargiulo's Italian Restaurant

Infobox Restaurant
name = Gargiulo's Italian Restaurant


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established =1907
current-owner =Michael, Victor and Nino Russo
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food-type =Italian cusine
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street-address =
city = Coney Island
state = New York
zip =
country = United States
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website = [http://www.gargiulos.com/ www.gargiulos.com]

History

Gargiulo's is an Italian restaurant established in 1907 in Coney Island.

The restaurant was started and run by Gus Garguilo and later brought in Louis Garguilo and his wife Tessie, with other family members working in the kitchen along with others. Large parties were often held in the the spacious dining room with its large maroon drapes and the parties often spilled out into the small courtyard in the back on warm days. Pictures of these parties lined the walls in the entrance hall, many with recognizable faces such as Jimmy Durante.

The Garguilo's son, Michael, was a TV producer who for many years produced, among other things, the Macy's Day Parade on television. In April 1965, the Russo brothers (Michael, Victor and Nino) bought the restaurant from the Gargiulo family. [ [http://www.gargiulos.com/ Official website] ]

Gargiulo's thrives with the guidance of the younger generation, still family-owned and run. Children and now grandchildren of the original Russo brothers manage and carry on family traditions along with cousins and long-time employees.

Rumors of the sale of this Coney Island institution have run rampant over the last few years. All are unfounded. Thor Equities was interested in the property but in December 2006, Nino Russo said he plans to reject their offer: ""We are going to be celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2007, so we have no intention of selling yet." [ [http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292006/news/regionalnews/coney_isle_eatery_stays_regionalnews_rich_calder.htm Coney Isle Eatery Stays, NY Post 12/29/06] ]

Trivia

There are rumors Al Capone worked as a busboy. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9400E0D6153EF935A35752C1A9649C8B63 FOOD STUFF: HISTORIC NEW YORK] ] , [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55197-2004Jul16.html For Republicans, a Brave New World] ]

External links

* [http://www.go-brooklyn.com/html/issues/_vol24/24_10/oldeats.html HISTORIC BITES These 12 Brooklyn eateries offer diners a side order of history]

References