New York State Senate Resolution No. 5178
BY: Senator STACHOWSKI
COMMENDING Curly's Bar and Grill in Lackawanna,
New York, upon the occasion of celebrating its 75th
Anniversary on April 19, 2010
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize the
achievements of those individuals and businesses which substantially
contribute to the vitality of their communities and the entire Empire
State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Curly's Bar and Grill in Lackawanna, New York, upon the occasion
of celebrating its 75th Anniversary on Monday, April 19, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1935, in the heyday of the steel plants,
Curly's Bar and Grill functioned as a tavern serving strong drink and
hearty food; for three years, Francis (Curly) and Mae Warthling operated
their first neighborhood tavern on Gates Avenue until they moved to a
vacant tavern on 655 Ridge Road, where as many as 300 fish frys were
served from their basement kitchen; and
WHEREAS, In 1946, the building next door, 647 Ridge Road, became
available, and Curly Warthling and his wife moved their business and
lived over the premise with their only child, Paul; and
WHEREAS, Live piano music on the weekends drew many customers from
the surrounding area and Curly Warthling's great business sense led him
to purchase a boxed TV, the first of its kind in all of Western New
York, attracting even more customers; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 52, Curly Warthling suddenly passed away; his
son, Paul, who was serving in the United States Navy at the time,
immediately came home to help his mother run the business and has been
there ever since, a total of 62 years; and
WHEREAS, In 1957, Paul Warthling married Marian Kern, and together,
they had seven hard-working children, Paul T., Beth, Krista, William,
Francis, Alison and Douglas; and
WHEREAS, Marian Warthling tended bar, worked in the kitchen on
Friday nights and managed all of the bookkeeping; their children were
brought up learning business skills from their elders and at an early
age, they cleaned the restaurant on Sunday mornings, did dishes on
Friday nights, counted money from the receipts, husked hundreds of ears
of corn for their baseball teams, and cleaned shrimp for their Friday
dinners; and
WHEREAS, Paul Warthling's mother, who wanted to retire, turned the
business over to Paul in 1970; business was thriving allowing for their
children to attend college; Krista Warthling was the only sibling who
had any interest in cooking, a gene inherited from her grandfather and
went on to train at the Culinary Institute of America where she met her
husband, Kirk VanWagner; and
WHEREAS, Paul and Marian Warthling agreed to sell the restaurant and
retire when their daughter Krista VanWagner and her husband came back
from the Cayman Islands, where they both worked in upscale restaurants;
as it turned out it was Krista and Kirk VanWagner who bought the
restaurant from Paul and Marian Warthling; and
WHEREAS, As business owners, Krista and Kirk VanWagner were very
cautious and kept the menu modest, fresh but limited; they entered "The
Taste of Buffalo" and tied for first place in the best food category,
with Caribbean Blue Fish and Jerk Chicken; this event re-established
Curly's Bar and Grill and once again people were traveling from all over
Western New York to eat at Curly's; and
WHEREAS, The next year they won first place again for People's
Choice with their excellent black bean soup and the third year they came
in first place for Best Dessert with their marvelous "Mile High Peanut
Butter Pie"; and
WHEREAS, Now it was time for these classically trained chefs, who
had extensive experience with cuisine from around the world to expand
their menu and use their elaborate recipes they picked up while working
in restaurants in Switzerland, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Lake Tahoe, and
Florida; and
WHEREAS, Customers rave about their fresh vegetables and seafood,
delectable steaks, fresh baked breads, and outrageous desserts, all made
on the premises; they also offer a gluten free menu attracting customers
of all ages; and
WHEREAS, Recently, Krista and Kirk VanWagner purchased the building
adjacent to the current restaurant, where her parents first ran the
business, and today it is a beautiful banquet center catering excellent
food for wedding and baby showers, anniversary and birthday celebrations
and fundraisers; and
WHEREAS, The family tradition carries on as now Krista and Kirk
VanWagner's three children, Erik, Lianne and Maggie, who while attending
school also find the time to help in the restaurant and catering
business; and
WHEREAS, Krista and Kirk VanWagner have replaced the chili that once
warmly sustained the loyal working class of Lackawanna with fare that
mingles the flavor of the Carribbean and the flair of French cuisine;
they have worked in the finest of restaurants for many years and cook
the same quality at Curly's Bar and Grill; and
WHEREAS, Today, people can walk into Curly's Bar and Grill and still
be greeted with a smile from Paul Warthling who works there daily, and
from Marian Warthling who still hostesses a few days a week; family ties
and drawing grown children back to Western New York is a recurring theme
in the life stories of people in this region, but few have threads as
long nor an ending as happy as that involving the Warthlings and
VanWagners; and
WHEREAS, Through their diligence and expertise the Warthlings and
VanWagners have brought pride and recognition to their restaurant, the
local community, and the entire Empire State; and
WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body
acknowledges the success of this exceptional family 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
commend Curly's Bar and Grill in Lackawanna, New York, upon the occasion
of celebrating its 75th Anniversary on April 19, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Curly's Bar and Grill, Lackawanna, New York.
