Staten Island Chamber and BP Fossella Go for New Year’s Eve Round Two

Jan 13

By MICHAEL ANDERSON, Content Development Specialist

When the Omicron variant surged in December 2021, holiday celebrations were disrupted, leaving many restaurants struggling with cancellations. Recognizing their plight, Borough President Vito Fossella and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce have partnered up for New Years Eve: Part II, an Island-wide initiative that encourages patronizing our local restaurants, bars, and caterers on January 29.

“If you were thinking of going out on New Year’s Eve, this could be how you can show your support to your local bar or restaurant owner and say thanks for sticking through it in the last couple of years. During the pandemic, many of these businesses they didn’t know if they would be able to pay their real estate taxes, pay their staffs, or pay their suppliers. By coming out on January 29, we can support our local business owners in a fun way. New Year’s Eve came and went, but we can do it again,” added Fossella.

That sentiment was echoed by Linda Baran, the President and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, during her remarks at the presser.

“It’s really important that we all support our community, and we support the people that risk their livelihoods to stay in business, and the workers who really need these jobs,” she said.

She acknowledged the many restaurant owners who have managed to contend with a rapidly changing and challenging environment the last two years, including adapting to closures, mandates, outdoor dining, and more, and stressed the importance of supporting them.

The press conference was held at LiGreci’s Staaten, a long-standing, family-owned catering hall here on Staten Island. Owner Jack LiGreci was on hand, along with several politicians and more than a dozen local tavern owners, many of which have been engrained in the local community for years. Staten Island staples such as Denino’s in Port Richmond, LaFontana in Oakwood, and Joyce’s Tavern in Great Kills, were among those restaurants present.

“This is not a political thing. This not a business thing. This is a community thing,” said Joe O’Toole, one of the owners of Joyce's Tavern, who spoke at the event. “All of the parties are here, together. We’re the Staten Island community.”

The 16th Borough President stressed the importance of small businesses in our community.

“When you drive around and you see the Little Leagues, you’ll see the signs are not from big corporations. They’re the names of the restaurants and the bars,” said Fossella. “These are the folks who are really the backbone of Staten Island and the backbone of our community.”

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon, South Shore Councilman Joe Borelli, new Mid-Island Councilman David Carr and representatives from State Sen. Andrew Lanza and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis also addressed the crowd and stressed the importance of supporting the restaurant industry.

“So many of our workers are employees of restaurants and bars. You can go around this room and find many people whose first job was in a restaurant or bar,” said Borelli.

In fact, one of Borelli’s first jobs was working as a bus boy at Giovanni’s Trattoria at 3800 Richmond Ave. When he left, his friend Anthony Rapacciuolo gladly took his spot. Rapacciuolo is now part owner of the restaurant, which recently was rebranded as Gio’s.

“Seeing our new Borough President and the Chamber of Commerce come forth with this initiative right after a loss that was experienced by so many Staten Island restaurants, is a great show of solidarity and a great show of what it means to be a Staten Islander. In all circumstances, regardless of political affiliation, race, or creed, we’re all there for each other,” said Rapacciulo, a member of the Chamber. “We’re grateful we have the support of our local community as well as our elected officials and the Chamber to help organize things like this.”

As part of the Jan. 29 initiative, various prizes will be awarded to patrons who participate in the effort.