Sept. 1, 2020 By Christian Murray
A family-owned banquet hall that has served Queens residents for nearly 70 years has announced that it has closed permanently due to COVID-19.
Riccardo’s by the Bridge, founded in 1951 at 21-01 24th Ave. in Astoria, announced today that it is closing for good. Anthony Corbisiero, whose family owns the venue, announced the closure on its website.
The banquet hall, which has been with the Corbisiero family for four generations, is a casualty of the city’s restrictions on indoor dining and the uncertainty of what will be permitted in coming months.
The establishment was a popular wedding venue and where reunions and dinner dances were often held.
“You have honored us with hosting the most meaningful events of your lives: when love was in the air at your weddings; when tears flowed at the funeral repast of loved ones; when you got the gang together for a Reunion, or Holiday, or Dinner Dance, or Murder Mystery, or Carnevale, or Valentine’s Day or anything else that required fine food,” Corbisiero wrote.
Corbisiero added that anyone with an event booked or has a deposit on file will be refunded over the next 90 days.
“This decision has been extremely difficult to make, and is solely due to the various impacts of the COVID pandemic,” Corbisiero wrote.
“If it were up to us we would cater your special events forever. But after reviewing all options and weighing all known factors, there is simply no realistic path forward given all of the unknowns: when we might reopen and, even then, the anticipated City, State and Federal restrictions that will most definitely be placed on such a reopening.”
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10 Comments
Come on man. Have a heart and a conscience. A 70 year old landmark establishment of Astoria is a victim of a world epidemic and all you can focus on is real estate value. What about the dozens of jobs lost and the hurt felt by the Riccardo’s family. These peoples livelihood have been changed forever. There are alot of more important things and values in life than putting a price tag on real estate value. Take a long look in the mirror and rethink your values….Clay.
It’s terrible because we were married, May 8 1987 and we had a wonderful wedding reception there! This letter saddens many of us as difficult is has been for many people and businesses! Please know our thoughts and love will always be cherished! If you have any momentous items that you might think would be given to us perhaps a bowl or something that we can save!
This place has been there for decades. All the Best to the Owners.
Wow another casualty of the coronavirus effects Astoria. A landmark establishment like Riccardo’s will be dearly missed. My parents were married their in April 1951. I was married their in May 1982. Myself and my family held over a dozen more parties over the last 20 years. The food was always delicious and the accommodations were second to none. One of the owners Mark is a pure gentleman, a great businessman and a friend. He always treated you like a V.I.P. thank you Mark and Riccardo’s for sharing our family’s most happy and precious moments. You both will be dearly missed. Best of luck and happiness to the Riccardo’s family. We love you. God bless.
I am so sorry to hear this! Riccardo’s was landmark Astoria establishment. I think the biggest mistake they made was just using it as a banquet hall and not a restaurant Italian eatery. Even with a pandemic, outdoor eating might had saved it.
Sorry to hear it, but thats a nice piece of property. I have investors that may be interested .
What about our refund deposit for a sweet 16 that never happened we’ve been trying for months to get our money back and nothing no response
Very sorry to hear this. My wedding reception was here in 1966 and everything was excellent!
End of a era,wonderful times and great memories
So sorry to hear this. My parent’s wedding was there in 1954 and my sister’s baptism in 1963. I believe one of my cousins held their wedding there in the 80’s.