After the fire: Gino’s Original Cheese Steaks returns

NORTH SYRACUSE — Gino’s Original Cheese Steaks, known for its Cheese Steak Utica and Belly Filler sandwiches, reopened Wednesday in North Syracuse, less than six months after a fire destroyed its building.

Gino’s, located at 458 South Main St. in North Syracuse, suffered an electrical fire last Dec. 20, caused by a faulty stove, owner Gino Epifani says.

Gino’s originally opened in 2009 on Route 31 in Cicero. The restaurant then moved to North Syracuse in 2012, prior to the fire.

The new Gino’s covers 900 square feet, which Epifani leases. The landlord’s insurance covered the rebuild costs, which totaled in the six figures, Epifani says. He didn’t know the exact number.

Gino’s has five employees, a mix of full-time and part-time workers. With the reopening, Epifani now hopes to increase his weekly revenue by at least 30 or 40 percent.

“In a year, I see at least another location or two expanding. It’s tough to tell because it’s been one day, but I anticipate doing 20 to 30 percent more,” Epifani says.

The menu features a variety of steak sandwiches, plus salads, ham and chicken sandwiches, and side dishes.

Epifani says he’s been in the bar and restaurant business since 1989. He previously owned Awful Al’s Smoke and Whiskey Bar in Armory Square and Woody’s Jerkwater Pub & Grill in Mattydale, he says.