Saturday evening the Burbank Elk’s Lodge was filled with over 210 guests all with the same thing in common, they ether were a customer, a server or a family member of the Marvin Cecchini Family owned Genio’s restaurant that closed several years ago.
The late Genio’s restaurant opened it’s door back in 1952. The Italian restaurant located at Verdugo and Olive was a mainstay for plenty of Burbank families. It closed in 2006 and 10 years later plenty of Burbank old timers gathered one more time to enjoy the laughter and friendship with former owner Marvin Cechini and family.
The conversations heard around the room were fond memories people recalled from the days of Genio’s, some recalled wedding receptions while others cited Friday night dinners and even a couple recalled civic groups holding weekly meeting in one of the three different rooms.
Called back to the kitchen for the night was the original head Chef, Jose Lopez and his right hand man Rito Puente. They wipped up Meat Lasagna , Chicken Pica ta and Shrimp Scampi from their original menu.
Dancing to the music of John Carro, guests mingled with plenty of laughs and tears with everyone in the room. The evening included an auction of tickets to The Magic Castle with the proceeds raised to help the Charities of the Burbank Elks.
In attendance were former Burbank Police Officers, Burbank Fire Fighters, Former Mayor Mary Lou Howard, Fire Chief Michael W Davis, Airport Commissioner Don Brown Elaine Paonessa Sydney Hines, and plenty of others.
