 
Assembly Resolution No. 126
 
BY: M. of A. Stec
 
        COMMEMORATING  the  100th  Anniversary  of New Way
        Lunch
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
illustrious  culinary  establishments which have positively impacted and
substantially contributed to the vitality of their communities; and
 
  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of New Way Lunch; and
 
  WHEREAS, A landmark within its community, New Way Lunch  is  one  of
the area's most historic restaurants; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  original owner of New Way Lunch, John Floro, traveled
from Greece to New York City in 1916, to work a fruit stand in Brooklyn,
New York, owned by his brothers; shortly after, he  married  the  former
Mary Lascaris and they had three daughters; and
 
  WHEREAS,  As  time went on, his brothers returned to Greece and John
Floro took three months off, traveling upstate New  York  in  search  of
employment  and a place to call home; the rapidly growing family settled
in Glens Falls, New York, where John became the owner of New  Way  Lunch
at 54 South Street in August of 1919; and
 
  WHEREAS,  From the early 1920s-1940s, New Way Lunch grew as a family
run business, with many  Floro  clan  members  and  friends  working  as
employees;  while  in Glens Falls, John and Mary had two more daughters,
which made five in total:  Constance,  Margaret,  Diamond,  Angela,  and
Themetria (Toly); and
 
  WHEREAS,  During  the  1940s,  John  Floro  enlisted  three  of  his
daughters, Angela, Diamond and Toly, to  sell  hotdogs  out  of  a  food
truck,  which  they  fondly  named  Zenobia;  traveling  to  Lake George
Village, local football games and other events, the  girls  found  great
success; and
 
  WHEREAS,  At  its  original  site on South Street, New Way Lunch was
open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,  catering  to  the  blue  collar
workers  who  had  odd  hours,  as  well as those out and about on South
Street; and
 
  WHEREAS, John Floro passed away  in  1950,  during  which  time  his
daughter  Margaret's husband, George Kokoletsos, became the new majority
owner, operating the business from 1950 until his  retirement  in  1972;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  In  the late 1970s, Peter Gazetos, the son of John Floro's
daughter Angela, began to help out at the eatery, and by  1990,  he  had
become  the newest owner of New Way Lunch; just eight years later, Peter
and his wife Susan opened a second New  Way  Lunch  in  Queensbury,  New
York, including a drive-through and off-street parking; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  business  continued  to  grow and in 2006, the couple
moved the original New Way Lunch  from  54  South  Street  to  21  South
Street;  this move allowed them to offer off-street parking and expanded
menu selections in Glens Falls; and
 
  WHEREAS, The third New Way Lunch location opened in Warrensburg, New
York,  in  2011,  with  help  from  the  couple's children, Nicholas and
Alexandria; and
 
  WHEREAS, Today, under the able leadership of the Gazeto family,  New
Way  Lunch's  signature  dish remains the "dirt dog," which features its
special meat sauce on a steamed  bun  with  mustard  and  diced  onions;
Nicholas  and  Alexandria,  the fourth generation, will be operating New
Way Lunch  into  the  future  in  much  of  the  same  manner  as  their
great-grandfather did 100 years ago; and
 
  WHEREAS,  For  a  century,  New  Way  Lunch  has  stood as a beloved
establishment which  has  provided  a  friendly,  open  environment  for
patrons  to collectively gather and share their thoughts, ideas and life
experiences; and
 
  WHEREAS, It is  with  great  pleasure  that  this  Legislative  Body
acknowledges  this  exceptional  business  and  its contributions to the
local and State economies, fully confident  that  it  will  continue  to
enjoy  the  sparkling  successes  it  has  experienced  thus  far;  now,
therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of New Way Lunch; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to New Way Lunch.
commemorating the 100th Anniversary of New Way Lunch

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