ABOUT
Born in San Martino, Italy, Joseph Chirico came to Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn in 1964. Twenty years old and full of adventurous spirit, Chirico wasted no time in embarking on his first venture in the restaurant business. Within five years of his arrival to the U.S., he was already on his way to becoming the successful restaurateur that he is today. His first establishment was Joe's Luncheonette which opened in 1968. The venture was followed by Cafe Del Sud, which he conceived of in 1970 to accommodate the large wave of Southern Italian immigrants to Carroll Gardens. Not long after, he expanded his business to the five boroughs with a pizza parlor chain. In 1983 when Chirico opened Marco Polo Ristorante, named after the great adventurer, Carroll Gardens was in decay. But Chirico anticipated a renaissance of the area and went ahead with his plans. Today, Marco Polo Ristorante on Court Street is considered one of Brooklyn's great eateries. |