Senate Resolution No. 868
BY: Senator O'MARA
COMMENDING Sorge's Restaurant upon the occasion of
celebrating its 70th Anniversary
WHEREAS, Within each community of this great State of New York there
are certain businesses that define the nature of the region and the
people who inhabit it; and
WHEREAS, Such is true of Sorge's Restaurant which has provided
nourishment and employment for residents in Corning, New York, for 70
prosperous years; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commend Sorge's
Restaurant upon the occasion of its 70th Anniversary, to be celebrated
at a Ribbon Re-cutting Ceremony on Friday, June 4, 2021; and
WHEREAS, On the occasion of Sorge's Restaurant's 60th Anniversary on
June 4, 2011, the Guinness World Records recognized the restaurant for
the creation of the longest egg noodle, which measured 525 feet; and
WHEREAS, Renato (Ronnie) Sorge and his brother, Remo, came to the
United States from Italy in 1936; after 15 years of experience with
local restaurants, Renato purchased property on 68 West Market Street,
and on June 5, 1951, Sorge's Restaurant was born; and
WHEREAS, With authentic, well-prepared, reasonably priced meals by
Renato Sorge and his wife, Loretta, Sorge's quickly became the area's
finest Italian restaurant; and
WHEREAS, From its humble beginnings of 11 booths, Sorge's Restaurant
expanded in 1962, with the purchase of the adjacent building; six years
later, the upstairs of both buildings were converted into a dining room
and banquet facility; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, Renato Sorge's two sons, Joseph and Michael,
joined their father in the family business upon finishing their degrees
in restaurant management; and
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, on December 27, 2008, Sorge's Restaurant
sustained a devastating fire which destroyed the building; the landmark
restaurant, then in business for 57 years, was demolished, leaving only
the historic front facade standing; and
WHEREAS, During the months that followed, a rebuild effort began
with much thought given to preserving the proud traditions and history
that made the restaurant famous, with reconstruction of the restaurant
beginning in October of 2009; and
WHEREAS, A major focus of the reconstruction has been to preserve
and carry forward important pieces of Sorge's history, and blend them
into a complete rebuild of the restaurant; these pieces of history can
be seen in the tile floor in the booth area that was replicated from the
"old booth area," as well as the reproduction of the Al Valerio
paintings which depicted Renato Sorge's home town of Strangolagalli,
Italy; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the back-bar wall is framed with bricks taken
from the interior of the building which was saved during the demolition,
and recent photographs of Strangolagalli have been placed in various
locations in the restaurant and in the menu; and
WHEREAS, For 70 fruitful years, the Sorge family and the employees
of Sorge's Restaurant have brought an uncommon sense of quality and
spirit to the community, providing the residents of Corning and Steuben
County as a whole, not only with good food, but also with good
old-fashioned memories to enjoy; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting that this Legislative Body recognize local
businesses such as Sorge's Restaurant which have become institutions in
the community, as well as the successful entrepreneurs who have nurtured
them throughout the years; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Sorge's Restaurant upon the occasion of celebrating its 70th
Anniversary, fully confident that it will continue to enjoy the same
sparkling success and indomitable spirit which has so characterized its
past; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Sorge Family.
