From Auto Empire to Culinary Delight: The Manfredi Family's Next Chapter in Staten Island Entrepreneurship

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Frank Cina may not walk in his grandfather’s shoes, but he is following in his footsteps.

Unlike Cina, who was born in Brooklyn, his grandfather, Corrado “Joe” Manfredi, was born in Mola di Bari, Italy, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1952 at age 14, moving to Brooklyn. By 1962, Manfredi bought out the Brooklyn dealership where he’d started working as an auto mechanic and eventually established one of Staten Island’s most recognizable businesses: the Manfredi Auto Mall.

Fast-forward to today, and the spirit of entrepreneurship has endured through the generations. Cina, who learned the importance of customer service from his grandfather, said he prioritizes getting to know customers at the restaurant he opened in November 2023 with his mother, Joann (Manfredi’s daughter) and father, Sebastian.

Their establishment, Corrado’s Cucina, is located at 831 Arthur Kill Road in Greenridge, near the same corner where Al Deppe’s restaurant used to be. Although Manfredi’s customers always knew him as Joe, his real name was Corrado. The restaurant was named in his honor.

Specializing in Southern Italian cuisine, Cina hired chef Giovanni Amato, who was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily. Some of Amato’s authentic dishes include parmigiana di melanzane, arancine cacio e pepe, linguine vongole, rigatoni burrata, polpo, and rigatoni norma. The brick oven turns out various traditional red and white pies, along with authentic Sicilian pizzas. Corrado’s seats more than 150 people, and can accommodate 90 guests in a separate event space.

Reda Mikhail from Great Kills bought cars from Manfredi and now eats at Corrado’s. He said, “When the restaurant first opened, the owner introduced himself, and that’s when I found out he was Manfredi’s grandson.”

Cina has revived family traditions, including a Christmas Eve gathering where fifty family members honored the family patriarch by dressing alike in colorful, matching pajamas. Manfredi’s influence extends beyond the family, with many diners sharing stories of his kindness and dedication to customer satisfaction.

Cina aims to expand Corrado’s in the same way his grandfather expanded his automotive dealerships. Frank Cina's journey in entrepreneurship began early, working in the family business and eventually branching out into various ventures, including automotive detailing and concert production.

Cina’s ventures stem from admiration for his grandfather, who was fiercely proud of his Italian roots and known for his generosity. The family legacy continues as they embrace new ventures while honoring the past.