Privileged Resolution 010282

..Title Honoring Ralph's Italian Restaurant as the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in the United States. ..Body WHEREAS, In 1893, Francesco and Catherine Dispigno, along with their young son, Ralph, left Naples Italy and made their way to the United States. After landing at Ellis Island, they moved to Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, In May 1900, the Dispignos opened a restaurant at Ninth and Montrose Streets, in the heart of the Italian Market. They named the restaurant after their son, Ralph; and WHEREAS, By 1915, the restaurant had become so popular that the Dispignos needed more room. They purchased their current location, a three story 19th century brownstone at 760 S. Ninth street that had previously been a boarding house. The first two floors were converted to a bar and restaurant with the top floor serving as a hotel; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Ralph's has been patronized not only by Philadelphians but by many celebrities who performed at Palumbo's. Stars like Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Jimmy Durante, Al Martino, Tony Bennett, Louis Prima and more recently, James Darren (who grew up around the corner from Ralph's), Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, and others became regular patrons and friends; and WHEREAS, In 1982, Jimmy Rubino, the great grandson of Francesco and Catherine Dispigno and the grandson of the original Ralph took over as head chef and operator of Ralph's, having been working at the restaurant since he was 6 years old; and WHEREAS, Ralph's Italian Restaurant today retains the same charm and ambiance of the original restaurant, with the preserved tile floor and reproductions of the original painted murals and artwork; and WHEREAS, For 101 years people have come from all over Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley and beyond to enjoy the warmth and hospitality and most especially, the food at Ralph's. The same wonderful recipes that Catherine Dispigno cooked for her friends and patrons in 1900 are still delighting patrons today; now therefore RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we recognize and honor Ralph's Italian Restaurant not only as the oldest family-run Italian restaurant in the United States, but as a shining example of the finest Philadelphia has to offer in the way of Italian dining. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Jimmy Rubino and Ralph's Italian Restaurant as evidence of the gratitude, admiration and sincere respect of this legislative body. ..End Normal Normal Heading 1 Heading 1 Default Paragraph Font Default Paragraph Font Envelope Address Envelope Address Envelope Return Envelope Return TxBr_c1 TxBr_c1 TxBr_p2 TxBr_p2 Body Text Body Text Body Text Indent Body Text Indent Michael Decker'C:\My Documents\WINWORD\Temp\010282.doc Michael Decker'C:\My Documents\WINWORD\Temp\010282.doc Michael Decker/C:\windows\TEMP\AutoRecovery save of 010282.asd Michael Decker/C:\windows\TEMP\AutoRecovery save of 010282.asd Denise Osborne+\\CITYCOUNCILNT\OFFICE98\Import\L010282.doc Denise Osborne+\\CITYCOUNCILNT\OFFICE98\Import\L010282.doc Denise Osborne<\\170.115.69.16\Office98\Philadelphia\Text Files\0102820.docÿ?? Times New Roman Times New Roman Symbol Symbol Georgia Georgia RESOLUTION RESOLUTION Michael Decker Michael Decker Denise Osborne Denise Osborne RESOLUTION Michael Decker Normal Denise Osborne Microsoft Word 8.0 City Council RESOLUTION _PID_GUID {A1EC3F98-6934-43D8-A7FA-23DBB3C9D4A9} {A1EC3F98-6934-43D8-A7FA-23DBB3C9D4A9} Root Entry 1Table 1Table WordDocument WordDocument SummaryInformation SummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation DocumentSummaryInformation CompObj CompObj ObjectPool ObjectPool Microsoft Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8