Verdile's, the family-owned Italian restaurant that has anchored Second Avenue in Lansingburgh for generations, is closing its doors for good. Owners Mike and Erin Verdile announced they are retiring, with the restaurant's last day of business set for Sunday, December 27, 2026.
The couple shared the news in a Wednesday social media post, saying the restaurant has served Lansingburgh and the greater Capital District for 83 years and that family considerations played a part in the decision. “The time has come for us to spend more quality time with our children,” they said, according to a report from news10.com. In the same post, the owners thanked loyal regulars and special-occasion customers for decades of support.
Verdile's traces its roots to 1943, when it was founded by Italian immigrants identified by news10.com as Raphael and Frances Verdile — though a 2011 New York State Senate press release spells the founder's first name Rafael. The restaurant moved to its current Second Avenue location in 1951, and Michael Verdile took over the business in 1961. Mike and Erin Verdile represent the third generation of the family to run the restaurant.
A Historic Business Facing an Uncertain Future
The restaurant's long run earned it a spot on the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry in 2024, per the same news10.com report. A Century 21 commercial listing for the property at 572 2nd Avenue in Troy describes it as a long-standing Lansingburgh site with over 80 years of community presence, according to the listing found at commercial.century21.com.
Mike and Erin Verdile first announced the restaurant was for sale in April 2026, saying at the time there was no urgency or financial reason behind the decision to sell. As of the November report, the restaurant still appeared for sale on the Coldwell Banker Prime Properties website, though it's not known whether the property has sold or what might happen to the site once Verdile's closes.
Final Weeks Bring Farewells and Gift Card Deadline
In their announcement, the owners said they will explore extended hours in the weeks before closing so community members can stop in to bid farewell to the staff. They also said they hope customers will celebrate with them until the final day.
Guests holding gift cards are being asked to use them before December 27, and anyone planning to dine with a large group for a final meal is asked to call ahead, the owners said in the same post.
For now, Verdile's plans to keep serving the neighborhood it has called home since the Truman administration, with six weeks and four days left before the dining room goes dark for the last time.
