Oneonta Landmark Closes Aug. 25
Avanzatos' Restaurant
Dynasty Comes To End
Editor's Note: Gianluca Avanzato, who recently published his first book, "City of the Hills," asked to write this valedictory of his family's role at Stella Luna.
By GIANLUCA AVANZATO • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – For nearly 47 years, brothers Vincenzo and Antonio Avanzato, along with their families, have offered their passion for community, hospitality, and quality food to Oneonta.
After Aug. 25, 2019, the Avanzatos' most recent restaurant, Stella Luna Ristorante, will close the doors that have remained open to guests from near and far for almost two decades, and Vincenzo and Antonio will step back from their long-held roles as restaurateurs in Oneonta.
The Avanzato family – parents, Diego and Giuseppa, and children, Antoinette, Salvatore, Vincenzo (Vinne), Antonio (Tony) – immigrated from Canicattì, Italy, to Oneonta on Feb. 13, 1966. Shortly thereafter, on Sept. 29, 1972, the Avanzato family opened the Italian Kitchen on Church Street in Oneonta. For nearly 36 years, the Avanzatos ran Italian Kitchen; the restaurant was sold on Aug. 21, 2008.
On June 1, 2000, Vinne and Tony opened up Stella Luna Ristorante. Originally Oneonta's Delaware & Hudson (D&H) Railroad station, Stella Luna spans the length of a beautiful red brick building on Market Street, initially boasting a highly trained staff of 45.
