2016 City of Albany, "Gargano's Restaurant"

Gargano's Restaurant

Gargano's Restaurant was a landmark in Albany and patronized by hundreds of people from the surrounding area for many years. Opened in 1957, Susie and Michael Gargano introduced Italian food and most especially, pizza, to south Georgia. With origins in Salerno, Italy, Susie Gargano immigrated with her father and two brothers through Ellis Island, NY in 1922 and followed him to Pennsylvania where there were jobs and friends. That is where she met her future husband, Michale Gargano, who had arrived from Monte Casino, Italy in 1911. After seeing an article in the newspaper about grape production in Albany, son John encouraged his father to move to Albany. So in January 1951 the family sold the farm in Florida and used some of the money to relocate to Albany in hopes of starting a vineyard. Unfortunately, it was then illegal to make wine in Georgia and the type of grapes would not thrive. Those barriers led them to open a spaghetti restaurant in 1952, known as Adam's Inn. The only restaurant in east Albany, it quickly became a favorite of the military housed at the Marine Corps Logistics base. In 1957 Gargano's restaurant opened and people came by the carload. It prospered with Susie working in the back and managed the family while Michael worked in the front and managed the business. Daughter Rosemary bought the restaurant following the death of her father and arranged for what became a tradition with hundreds of people in attendance: "Susie's Birthday celebration. Gargano's restaurant received state recognition in 1993 and continued to build memories for the community by hosting weddings, parties for Desert Storm servicemen and countless other special events. The restaurant closed its doors in 2001.