You are reading

Tony Raouf of Riverview Restaurant has a ‘big heart’, say LIC seniors

Lenny Gravino, Terri Adams, Tony Raolf, Rae Incantalupo, Marilyn Walsh

Lenny Gravino, Terri Adams, Tony Raouf, Rae Incantalupo, Marilyn Walsh

Dec. 20, 2012 By Christian Murray

When St Mary’s senior center was closed in 2010, many of Long Island City’s older residents were left without a meeting place.

There were 35 to 40 seniors at the time—with most of the seniors being of Italian extraction who could trace their roots to the Italian grandparents who bought property in LIC at the beginning of the 20th century.

Since then many of LIC’s seniors now meet at the Riverview Restaurant & Lounge (201 50th Ave) every Monday, where Tony Raouf, the owner, provides them with a free lunch—often hearty Italian fare. He has been doing this since St Mary’s closed down.

“I felt that this is the least I can do,” Raouf said, who is also a LIC resident. “I want to give back to those who made Hunters Point what it is today. It is very important to me.”

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens—reportedly closed the senior center, which was locate on 49th Ave. near Vernon Ave.,  as a result in the decline of the senior population of the area as well as the building’s state of disrepair. It had been open for more than 30 years.

This past Monday, with bone chilling winds sweeping Center Boulevard, about 5 seniors showed up. However, on a typical week—with good weather– the number is far higher.

The Riverview Restaurant has also become a hub for the seniors’ activities, where they often organize vans to collect them to go shopping in nearby malls, or to visit other senior centers.

Terri Adams, who is the president of the Hunters Point Community Development Corp. and a member of the group, said “Raouf was never asked to do this. He has done it from his heart.”

Lenny Gravino, who was at lunch on Monday, reminisced how “he used to know everyone in the neighborhood. But that’s changed.” However, he said that the change has not been bad, since “many of the new arrivals are friendly.”

The group all contributed funds to ensure that Raouf’s restaurant had an illuminated snow flake outside for the holidays—as a sign of appreciation.

Snowflake, donated by seniors.

Snowflake, donated by seniors.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Adams breaks ground on major renovation of Queens Public Library’s Hollis Library

Oct. 25, 2024 By Nelson A. King

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Queens Public Library (QPL) President Dennis M. Walcott, and New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley on Friday broke ground on a $7.4 million project that will completely modernize the interior of the Hollis Library QPL branch with new reading rooms, more space for computers, and additional features for visitors and staff.

LaGuardia crowned best airport in United States by Forbes Travel Guide following $8 billion transformation

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey proudly announced on Oct. 22 that Forbes Travel Guide selected LaGuardia Airport as the best airport in the United States a decade after then-Vice President Joe Biden likened the transportation hub to one that would be found in a third-world nation in a speech lamenting the state of infrastructure in America.

Forbes released its first Verified Air Travel Awards based on a survey of 5,000 hospitality and travel experts and the guide’s most well-traveled fliers. The recognition is the latest in a long list of accolades given to LaGuardia throughout the course of the airport’s historic $8 billion transformation.