Memories of Joe’s Restaurant Part Two

These memories are a continuation to the Part One of my Joe’s Restaurant story seen previously in Tompkins Weekly.  

Sarah Sidle Yengo, who has been a big help to me as I wrote this article, was married to Tom Yengo for 49 years before his passing in 2011.  Tom was the grandson of Elvira and Joseph Yengo.  Sarah remembers how “Grandpa Joe” would give the grandchildren candy and coins for the jukebox so they could play his favorite song, “Tiny Bubbles.” 

Loretta Flacco Goss tells me that her parents met at Joe’s, as her Dad, Lou Flacco, was friends with Joe Yengo.  It was Joe who introduced her Mom, Theresa Ciaschi, who worked at the restaurant, to her Dad, and the rest is history.  For many years this large, extended Flacco family would meet in May to have dinner at Joe’s, to celebrate Mother’s Day and the several May family birthdays.   

Fran Enders wrote to tell me that in the 1950’s her mother, Elizabeth Underwood, worked as a waitress at Joe’s.  Fran remembers that the restaurant was always busy and the food was always very good. 

Mark Kenjerska started working at Joe’s when he was a junior in high school.  He started out as a dishwasher, and clearly remembers when taking a rack of clean glasses to the bar Johnny Joe Yengo told him he had to move faster on a busy Friday night!  Some of the names of his co-workers were Elma Nicholas, Eunice Parr, Bernice Wilson, Angie Stetson, Edith Sheets, Marge Banford and Tony Pollio. Mark eventually went out to the dining room floor as a busboy, then waiter and head waiter.  The restaurant would be packed on weeknights and people lined up out the door on weekends.   

Connie Poole Amici lived with her family across from Joe’s, on Meadow Street.  Her Mom would send a big pot over to Joe’s and they would fill it up with spaghetti and meatballs.  Connie says, “I loved the pizza at Joe’s.” 

Asher Hockett wrote to tell me that Joe’s was his family’s special place to eat in the 1950’s and 60’s.   

Kathy Redding McKeon loved Joe’s restaurant, and worked there as a cashier in the kitchen while pregnant with her son.  

Nancy L. Tuskey grew up going to Joe’s.  Her parents met there, and after getting married, they lived in the apartment above the restaurant with Nancy’s two older brothers. Nancy remembers “Grandpa Joe” and his box of bubble gum! 

Betty Murphy and family filled up Joe’s entire large dining room to celebrate her Mom’s 100^th birthday.  Betty’s Mom, the sweet, lovely, and quietly dignified Florence Ebersole Smith Finch, was the subject of the book by Robert J. Mrazek, “The Indomitable Florence Finch.”  The book tells the story of Florence’s great courage as a resistance fighter in the Philippines during World War II. 

On July 3, 1979, John G. Miller took his sweetie, Karen Giles, to Stewart Park after a delicious dinner at Joe’s Restaurant.  John proposed.  Karen said no!  Obviously it all worked out for the best as Karen and John have been happily married for nearly 43 years, with 7 children and 14 grandchildren.

Two well-known visitors to Joe’s Restaurant through the years were Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and renowned author Rod Serling.   

It will be a sad time when Joe’s Restaurant is taken down, but I am sure the memories will remain for so many, and that is a good thing. Ithaca is a city of many stories and it has been my pleasure to share this one.