After 73 years of serving homemade pasta and creating countless memories for the Corning community, Sorge’s Restaurant is closing its doors for good at the end of this month. The family-owned establishment, which first opened on June 5, 1951, made the bittersweet announcement on social media, marking the end of an era for a beloved institution.
The decision to retire comes after deep deliberation, according to current owners Mike and Chris Sorge. In their heartfelt message, the couple expressed their gratitude to loyal customers, employees, and family members who have supported the restaurant through the decades. “It is with a mixture of heartfelt gratitude and bittersweet emotions that we announce the final chapter of Sorge’s Restaurant,” they wrote.
Sorge’s has weathered numerous challenges since its opening, including one flood and two fires, overcoming each with the unwavering support of the community and their dedicated staff. Known for its warm atmosphere and comforting Italian dishes, the restaurant prided itself on being more than just a place to eat. “Our goal has always been to create more than just meals. We wanted to create a place where friends became family and moments turned into traditions,” the Sorges said.
For many Corning residents, Sorge’s has been a cornerstone of family life — a place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and reunions over signature plates of homemade pasta. As the Sorges prepare to close the restaurant, they acknowledged the role of their extended family, including Joe, Corky, Teresa Sorge-Bullock, and their children, in sustaining the legacy of the restaurant.
The restaurant’s impending closure has stirred emotions among its patrons. Many have shared memories of their first meals at Sorge’s or generations of family dinners enjoyed in the same cozy dining room. For these loyal customers, the end of Sorge’s is not just the closure of a business, but the loss of a community gathering spot.
In their closing statement, Mike and Chris Sorge emphasized that while the restaurant will no longer be serving meals, the relationships formed over the years will remain. “You have allowed us to be more than a restaurant, you have made us a cornerstone of this wonderful community,” they said.
The legacy of Sorge’s Restaurant — a place where food and family intertwined — will live on in the hearts of those who walked through its doors. For now, the Corning community prepares to say a fond farewell to a cherished local institution, thankful for the decades of love, laughter, and pasta.
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