LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Hunga-
rian Pastry Shop

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize illustri-
ous culinary establishments which have positively impacted and substan-
tially contributed to the vitality of their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Pastry Shop; and
WHEREAS, The Hungarian Pastry Shop, with its dim lighting and colorful
painted menu, has become a Morningside Heights institution in its half-
century on Amsterdam Avenue between 110th and 111th Streets in New York
City; and
WHEREAS, Though not an official outpost of Columbia University, the
Hungarian Pastry Shop has been a de facto lounge for hyperliterate
students and uptown writers since President John F. Kennedy was in the
White House; and
WHEREAS, Such customer loyalty has made it possible for the Pastry
Shop, known for its bohemian crowd of students, professors, and a few
notable authors, to celebrate its 50th Anniversary with 50-cent pastries
and coffee on April 20, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A Mr. and Mrs. Vecony opened the shop in 1961 and sold it to
Panagiotis Binioris, along with two partners; 15 years later Panagiotis,
who sometimes goes by Peter, now co-owns the shop with his wife, Wendy,
both of whom are Greek; and
WHEREAS, The Pastry Shop has been central to their lives since 1976
and was primarily responsible for their romance in the first place; the
Biniorises met when Wendy moved up north after graduating from the
University of Florida to live with family members who were frequent
customers of the shop; and
WHEREAS, Wendy got a job as a waitress at the Pastry Shop, and that is
how she met Peter; Wendy and Peter's 24-year-old son, Philip has occa-
sionally been working at the Pastry Shop since he was 13; now a full-
time employee, he plans to keep the business in the family; and
WHEREAS, One of the shop's charms is that it has pretty much remained
the same along with the recipes for the pastries, including chocolate
eclairs to apple strudel and walnut hamentaschen, all prepared daily by
three bakers; and
WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body acknowl-
edges the success and acclaim of this exceptional restaurant and recog-
nizes the many contributions to the communities it serves and the econo-
my; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Pastry Shop; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Binioris Family.