Geno's Steaks

Geno's Steaks

Geno's Steaks seen at night in 2007
Restaurant information
Established 1966
Current owner(s) Geno Vento
Previous owner(s) Joey Vento (1966-2011)
Food type North American cuisine
Street address 1219 South 9th St
City Philadelphia
State Pennsylvania
Postal code/ZIP 19147
Country United States
Website www.genosteaks.com

Geno's Steaks is a Philadelphia restaurant specializing in cheesesteaks, founded in 1966 by Joey Vento. Geno's is located in South Philadelphia at the intersection of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue, directly across the street from rival Pat's King of Steaks, which is generally credited with having invented the steak sandwich in 1933.[1] The cheesesteak has since become a signature dish for the city of Philadelphia. After Joey Vento's death in 2011, restaurant ownership was passed to his son Geno Vento.[2]

History

According to Vento, the name 'Geno's' was chosen because 'Joe's Steak Place' was already in business. He improvised the name from a broken door on which someone had painted 'GINO' and modified the spelling to prevent confusion with a regional fast food chain called Gino's. Vento later named his own son Geno, who now works in the family business.[3]

Geno's was awarded Best of Philly for Best Takeout by Philadelphia Magazine in 2000. In April 2004, a branch of the shop opened in Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. This location was closed in 2006 and replaced with Rick's Steaks (operated by Rick Olivieri, grandson of Pat Olivieri, founder of Pat's King of Steaks).

On August 23, 2011, 71-year-old owner and founder Joey Vento died of a heart attack.[4]

Description

"Whiz wit" from Geno's

Geno's menu is very similar to that of Pat's. Geno's does not chop the meat, while Pat's does.[5] Geno's claims to have sold up to 4,500 sandwiches daily.[5]

The walls, roof, and interior of Geno's are decorated with memorabilia and hundreds of autographed and framed photos of celebrities who have eaten there.

English sign controversy

The sign on the front window that provoked controversy

A sign on Geno's window gained press notoriety in 2006, during the immigration controversy.[6] The sign reads: "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING Please "SPEAK ENGLISH"."[7] The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations filed a discrimination complaint, arguing that Geno's violated the city's Fair Practices Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination in public accommodation, by "denying service to someone because of his or her national origin, and having printed material making certain groups of people feel their patronage is unwelcome."[8] Vento had previously said the signs are directed at the Mexican immigrants in the surrounding neighborhood.[9]

Vento said that no one has been refused service for not speaking English, but said, "If I can't understand you, you might not get the sandwich you thought you ordered."[8]

The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations found probable cause that the sign is discriminatory. The commission says the sign could make non-English speakers feel unwelcome or discriminated against.[10]

Daytime shot of Geno's
One of two eating areas at Geno's.

Vento enlisted the aid of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a public-interest legal organization.[10] In 2006, the Foundation had defended a bar owner cited by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission for a sign reading "For Service, Speak English." That case was settled when the owner removed the sign.[11]

Responding in an interview with Fox News analyst Neil Cavuto, Vento stated that he does not turn away any customer, and therefore does not discriminate. He also vowed to keep his sign displayed no matter how much pressure he receives. He explained to Cavuto that his parents had to learn English when they came to the U.S. He said that if his customers order in any other language, he'll give them Cheez Whiz on bread. Vento posed some rhetorical questions: "If one goes into a Puerto Rican neighborhood, how many signs would be seen in English?" and "When one is on the telephone, it may say press 1 for English, press 2 for Spanish; but where is the number for, say, Italian or Korean?"[12]

On March 19, 2008, Philadelphia's Commission on Human Relations ruled that the restaurant did not violate the city's Fair Practices Ordinance.[13]

The sign was quietly removed at some point before the 2016 Democratic National Convention as the new owner, Geno (Vento's son) found it to be offensive. [14][15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New York Times, "Harry Olivieri, 90, Co-Inventor of Cheese Steak in Philadelphia, Dies" July 22, 2006 retrieved July 25, 2006". The New York Times. July 22, 2006. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  2. ↑ Victor Fiorillo (2013-08-30). "Joey Vento's Dying Wish: Keep "Speak English" Sign at Geno's". Philly Mag. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  3. ↑ Welcome To Geno's Steaks - The Best in South Philly
  4. ↑ "Geno's Steaks owner Joey Vento dies of heart attack". 6abc. Action News. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  5. 1 2 Pettit, Mason (narrator) (2008-03-12). Steak Paradise (Television production). Prometheus Entertainment for The Travel Channel. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
  6. ↑ Archived May 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Sign at Geno's Steaks.
  8. 1 2 DeHuff, Jenny, The Bulletin, 26 September 2007. "Hearing Postponed For Controversial Geno's Sign". Accessed 28 November 2007.
  9. ↑ Campisi, Gloria, Philadlephia Daily News, 10 June 2006, "Free speech at steak."
  10. 1 2 Maykuth, Andrew, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9 February 2007 "Stakes get higher for Geno's".
  11. ↑ Maykuth, Andrew, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8 February 2007, "City Commission: Geno’s 'speak English' sign discriminatory".
  12. ↑ Owner of Geno's Cheesesteaks Responds to Bias Complaint, Fox News, 15 June 2006.
  13. ↑ "Agency OKs cheese steak shop's English-only signs - CNN.com". Archived from the original on March 24, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Geno's 50th Anniversary Block Party - And Guess What That Sign Is Not There | Philly Chit Chat". Philly Chit Chat. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
  15. ↑ "'Speak English' sign gone from Geno's". Billy Penn. Retrieved 2016-10-17.

Coordinates: 39°56′01″N 75°09′32″W / 39.933702°N 75.158898°W / 39.933702; -75.158898

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