Geno's Steaks

Geno's Steaks
Geno's Steaks seen at night in 2007
Restaurant information
Established	1966; 58 years ago (1966)
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/ZIP Code	19147
Country	United States
Coordinates	39.933702°N 75.158898°W / 39.933702; -75.158898
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 cheesesteak in 1933.^[1] The cheesesteak has since become a signature dish for Philadelphia.

After Joey Vento's death in 2011, restaurant ownership was passed to his son Geno Vento.^[2]

The restaurant is known for its distinctive appearance, featuring hundreds of bright neon lights and signs that illuminate the corner of 9th and Passyunk.^[3] The establishment operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and serves an estimated 30,000 sandwiches per month.^[4]

Under Geno Vento's leadership, the restaurant underwent a significant renovation in 2016, its first major update in 50 years.^[5] The renovation included expanded outdoor seating, updated ordering windows, and new interior designs while maintaining the iconic exterior appearance. The restaurant has been featured in numerous television shows, including appearances on The Tonight Show, Food Network, and Travel Channel programs.^[6]

Like its rival Pat's, Geno's is known for its specific ordering procedure, where customers are expected to order quickly and with precise terminology: specifying the type of cheese (including "wit" or "witout" onions) and following a particular sequence.^[7]

History

20th century

One of two outdoor eating areas at Geno's in March 2006

Geno's in April 2008

A "whiz wit" cheesesteak from Geno's in April 2009

Owner Joey Vento started a small grill venue at 9th and Passyunk in 1966 and over time his business gained praise from locals. Joey had a son in 1971 and named him Geno, who from 17 on, worked in his father's business.^[8]

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 is in charge of the family business.^[9]

21st century

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.^[10]

Geno's Steaks has branch locations at Terminal B of Philadelphia International Airport^[11] and at Rivers Casino Philadelphia.^[12]

On September 20, 2015, Geno's Steaks opened a location at Xfinity Live! Philadelphia.^[13]

Description

Geno's menu is very similar to that of Pat's. Geno's does not chop the meat while Pat's does.^[14] Geno's claims to have sold up to 4,500 sandwiches daily.^[14]

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 2006 sign on Geno's front window that provoked controversy

In June 2006, a sign on Geno's window gained press notoriety during a national controversy over immigration.^[15] The sign reads: "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING Please "SPEAK ENGLISH"."^[16] 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."^[17] Vento had previously said the signs are directed at the Mexican immigrants in the surrounding neighborhood.^[18]

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."^[17]

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.^[19]

Vento enlisted the aid of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, a public-interest legal organization.^[19] 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.^[20]

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 will 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?"^[21]

On March 19, 2008, Philadelphia's Commission on Human Relations ruled that the restaurant did not violate the city's Fair Practices Ordinance.^[22]

The sign was quietly removed at some point before the 2016 Democratic National Convention to avoid offense.^[23][24]

See also

• Italian Market (Philadelphia)
• History of the Italian Americans in Philadelphia

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. "The story behind Geno's iconic neon lights". Philadelphia Inquirer. February 15, 2023. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
4. "About Geno's Steaks". Geno's Steaks. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
5. "Geno's Steaks Celebrates 50 Years with Major Renovation". Philadelphia Weekly. September 15, 2016. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
6. "Geno's Steaks in Popular Culture". Visit Philadelphia. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
7. "How to order a cheesesteak like a Philadelphia native". Philadelphia Inquirer. July 15, 2022. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
8. "History of the Famous Philly Cheesesteak | A Philadelphia Original Since 1966".
9. "Welcome To Geno's Steaks - The Best in South Philly". February 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009.
10. "Geno's Steaks owner Joey Vento dies of heart attack". 6abc. Action News. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
11. "Dine, Shop & Services". Philadelphia International Airport. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
12. "Geno's Steaks". SugarHouse Casino. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
13. Bonghi, Gabrielle (August 11, 2015). "Geno's Steaks opening at Xfinity Live!". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
14. Pettit, Mason (narrator) (2008-03-12). Steak Paradise (Television production). Prometheus Entertainment for The Travel Channel. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
15. [1] Archived May 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
16. Sign at Geno's Steaks.
17. DeHuff, Jenny, The Bulletin, 26 September 2007. "Hearing Postponed For Controversial Geno's Sign" Archived 2007-12-28 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 28 November 2007.
18. Campisi, Gloria, Philadelphia Daily News, 10 June 2006, "Free speech at steak."
19. Maykuth, Andrew, Philadelphia Inquirer, 9 February 2007 "Stakes get higher for Geno's".
20. Maykuth, Andrew, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8 February 2007, "City Commission: Geno’s 'speak English' sign discriminatory".
21. Owner of Geno's Cheesesteaks Responds to Bias Complaint, Fox News, 15 June 2006.
22. "Agency OKs cheese steak shop's English-only signs - CNN.com". Archived from the original on March 24, 2008.
23. "Geno's 50th Anniversary Block Party - And Guess What That Sign Is Not There | Philly Chit Chat". Philly Chit Chat. 2016-10-07. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
24. "'Speak English' sign gone from Geno's". Billy Penn. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-17.

External links

• Geno's steaks website
• Whitford, David. "DRINKS WITH: FRANK OLIVIERI AND JOE VENTO Sandwich Superheroes" (Archive). Fortune. Thursday, May 29, 2003.