In 1954, George Russo’s father and uncle opened an Italian pizzeria in the Richmond Hill section of Queens. By the mid-1960’s they expanded into a full service restaurant, serving authentic Italian dishes from family recipes that drew diners from all over New York City. By 1975, they broke ground on Il Palazzo Villa Russo, the catering hall that over five decades later, along with a second family run catering venue, Russo’s On The Bay, has continued to host generations of their clients’ special family occasions.
Villa Russo embodies the words “caterer of distinction” by capturing the proud tradition of serving old-world Italian specialty dishes that lovingly embrace the recipes and heritage passed down through generations. The Russo family will now be bringing that same sense of pride and authentic cuisine to the JFK International Air Terminal with Villa Russo Café. The quick-serve cafe will now introduce their culinary fervor to those passing through JFK’s terminal 4 at Gate B24, and capture a side of Queens travelers rarely get to see. We snapped a picture at their grand opening in late January.
Caption: Welcome to Queens – with authentic Russo family recipes, Villa Russo Café officially opened last month at the JFK International Terminal at Gate B24.
The borough of Queens is celebrated as one of the most diverse urban areas worldwide, hosting communities and cuisines from over 130 countries. The sense of community in Queens is palpable, with a strong emphasis on the support for local ventures and the maintaining of cultural traditions.
From humble beginnings …. hard work and dedication
Villa Russo Cafe will act as a kind of ambassador within JFK T4, offering passengers a glimpse into Queens’ rich Italian-American heritage. In this eclectic setting Villa Russo Cafe stands as a proud beacon of Italian-American culture, contributing to the borough’s cultural mosaic and mirroring Queens’ own history of immigration and custom amalgamations. “I’m proud and excited to be bringing my family’s legacy into the global market at JFK’s T4,” said George Russo. “Nearly 75 years ago, my father and uncle, two sons of Italian immigrants, opened a small, local Italian pizzeria, from humble beginnings and through dedication and hard work they built a reputation for excellence in the service of their patrons. To think that now, over seven decades later, we’d be serving our family’s inspired recipes to international travelers at the gateway terminal to New York City is truly a testament to the American success story, as well as a personal dream come true for myself and my family.”
At JFK IAT, Gate B24, Villa Russo Cafe will deliver a dining experience that will make passengers feel like they’ve walked into a traditional Sunday dinner at the Russo family table. George tells us to make sure to stop by and visit on your next traveling journey, or book your family’s next special event at their catering hall, still located at its original location in Richmond Hill, Queens.
