Remember When This Rockford Restaurant First Opened? It’s Turning 40
A longtime Rockford restaurant is celebrating four decades of serving the community, and it's marking the milestone by giving customers a chance to win a little something extra.
Legendary Rockford Restaurant Celebrates 40 Years
Franchesco's Ristorante will celebrate its 40th anniversary this Saturday, October 10, and in an interview with the Q Morning Crew, owner Ben Salamone reflected on the restaurant's history, the people who have made it special, and their plans to celebrate this weekend.
Reaching 40 years is about more than serving great food. For Salamone, some of the most rewarding moments have come from watching customers return throughout the years and seeing their lives change along the way.
During the interview, Salamone recalled hosting birthday celebrations, anniversaries, and weddings at the restaurant's newer location. "It's incredible to see couples who celebrated their weddings at Franchesco's return years later with children of their own," Salamone said.
How Franchesco's Will Celebrate 40 Years
Franchesco's is celebrating the milestone by giving away 40 $100 gift cards, totaling $4,000 in prizes. Customers who dine at the restaurant on Friday (10/9) or Saturday (10/10) will have an opportunity to enter the drawing for one of the gift cards.
According to Salamone, the drawings will be held next week on Franchesco's Facebook page.
The One Thing Salamone Hopes Never Changes
When asked what he hopes will remain the same after 40 years, Ben Salamone pointed to something beyond the menu.
He said the love among his team, the camaraderie they share every day, and the people they get to meet are what he hopes never change at Franchesco's.
Ben Salmone Takes on the Fast 5 in 5
The Q Morning Crew also put Salmone on the spot with their Fast 5 in 5, where he had 5 seconds or less to answer each of these 5 questions:
Pizza or Pasta? Salamone: Pasta
Red sauce or Alfredo? Salamone: Definitely red sauce
Wine or a Cocktail? Salamone: A great wine is hard to beat.
Cook at home or go out to eat? Salamone: Honestly, I love to cook at home, I really do.
Cook for 100 people, or do the dishes for 100 people? Salamone: I would help cook.
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Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz