Louis Marchese

Comments:

Troy mourns passing of 'Lou'
By: James V. Franco, The Record

06/05/2007TROY - Popular restaurateur Louis Marchese Sr. is being remembered as "an awesome guy." Marchese, who operated Manory's Restaurant, died last Thursday at the age of 71. His restaurant has been a Collar City fixture at the corner of Congress and Fourth streets since the Manory family opened its doors in 1913. It is the city's oldest continually operated restaurant. Marchese and his son by the same name purchased the business in July 1990, and they successfully maintained the old-fashioned atmosphere.
Photos of historic Troy adorn the walls as do photos of celebrities who have eaten there over the years. The last was Hillary Rodham Clinton when she was first lady.
Michelle Pfeiffer also dined there while in town filming the movie, "The Age of Innocence," and rumor has it actress/activist Jane Fonda used to eat there when she attended Emma Willard School. "He was an awesome guy," said Bob Mirch, the city's commissioner of Public Works and majority leader of the Rensselaer County Legislature. "Walking into Manory's and being greeted by Lou Sr. was like going home again. Lou truly cared about everyone who went into his restaurant and everybody in the city of Troy." Marchese was also active in promoting Troy's downtown business community. In the mid-1990s when talk of moving the courthouse out of the city became a real possibility, he spearheaded an effort to keep it in downtown because, he said, it would have a negative impact on the downtown merchants. The courthouse stayed and was renovated, and personnel working there are regular patrons of Manory's. "They are a fixture in Troy," said Rensselaer County Court Judge Patrick McGrath, who said the restaurant is one of his family's favorite places to eat. "Lou was a friendly, kind-hearted guy who treated you like one of his family when you went in there. And his son is the same way."
The lifelong Trojan graduated from Troy High in 1955. He was inducted into the Ed Pickens Troy High School Hall of Fame 1997 and, four years later, he was inducted into the Troy Boys Club Hall of Fame. He retired from Norton Company in 1994 and worked at the restaurant with his son and other members of his family. "Lou Marchese always had a smile and a kind word for everyone who came through his restaurant over the years," said Chairman of the Legislature Neil J. Kelleher. "He was one of Troy's best known and most loved citizens, and we mourn his passing." The county Legislature is expected to pass a resolution in his memory on July 10.

Hide Comments
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:56 AM
Lou and Ed at Manory's - 2004