07.14.2025: Ends and Beginnings at Gino's Steak and Onion in Fayetteville

If you'd asked me on July 4th what restaurant in Syracuse would close next, Gino's Steak and Onion would not have made the list. It had become a regular hangout for myself since having returned to the Syracuse area in 2022 and every time I'd been there (which believe me, is far more than my primary care doc would approve) the joint was jumping, the phone ringing steadily and people of all stripes rubbing elbows at the bar, all drawn by the allure of meats and cheese and ice cold beer. Their media presence, social and otherwise, rivalled that of SU with thousands of followers and owner Josh Amidon making national headlines over and over be it for his glittery pink Barbie sauce or saucy tales from behind the bar. Then there it was: at 8:21 AM EST on July 13th, the news broke on Facebook: Gino's had lost their lease and their last day in business would be the next one. As a silver lining, would also be the first day of wedded bliss for the owners, with doors opening at 5 for the wedding and living wake for a place many locals said felt like home.

Needless to say, I cleared my schedule and charged my cameras, I had to be there for the end.

The old cliche says "you don't know what you've got 'til its gone." In this case that might only apply to the store's landlord. Well before the doors were scheduled to open, the parking lot was at capacity and the line extended the length of the building and down the sidewalk. Were they all there to say goodbye or just hoping to cash in on free food and drink? Truth is probably a bit of both, but the vast majority were familiar faces. Inside, family and close friends of the wedded-couple-to-be, owners Josh and Joe, sipped beers and waited for the official start. People came from as far away as Minnesota to witness the beginning of a marriage and the end of a cheesesteak chapter. Throughout the night people told me their stories of why Gino's was special to them. To some, it was one of the first places they felt safe to be themselves, to others it was where they met with friends and made new ones. The common thread was how special the place was and its power to bring people together.

The wedding was a simple affair. There was no tuxes, no grand procession, no groomsmen, no flower girl. It was just Joe and Josh (the latter with his trademark blue hair and silk kimono, this one with a red and black motif), and an officiant. Music was provided by a friend with an acoustic guitar. Especially in comparison to the 16 year relationship that preceded the ceremony, it was over in a flash. Cheers and bubbles filled the air, and it was time to hand out sandwiches and starting pouring drinks. The crowd spilled out of the store, with people eating on their cars and anywhere else they could find to sit or stand.

No one wanted to risk the fire marshal shutting the party down early for having too many people inside. It was peak Gino's. Everyone who is anyone was there: from service techs from the Honda dealership across the street, to artists, musicians, doctors, lawyers, and engineers. All had come to say goodbye and congrats, and fill the hole's in their hearts with food and drink. The final tally from the night (per the official Gino's Steak and Onion Facebook account), reads like the final boss shopping list for a Costco run. It is simply staggering: 175 lbs of beef, 80 lbs of chicken, 62 lbs of cheese, 80 lbs of corned beef, 40 lbs of mac salad, 40 lbs of broccoli salad, and 1,100 drinks

The event lasted well past the posted closing time of 8PM. As the chairs went up onto tables, the few who remained huddled together, and tears were shed. Everyone believes this: this is only goodbye to this chapter. Gino's will rise again in a new form. But in that moment, it was still a goodbye, for who really knows what the future holds? On July 12th we had no idea we'd be saying goodbye and yet there we were, saying goodbye. Let's hope we get to say hello again real soon.

More from the last hurrah at Gino's

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