UTICA, N.Y. -- An Italian food landmark on Utica’s east side Wednesday night is marking 75 years in the business.

Ventura's restaurant, on Lansing Street, has been home to many local family celebrations, and authentic Italian dinners.

They've had many famous guests through the years, Cal Ripken Jr., Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, to name a few.

Those visits were thrilling, for sure. But the Ventura family treasures the local diners who've shared meals with them faithfully through the years, and whose families have continued to do so, through the generations.

"One of the nicest things to see is, we've had people that have had their first communions here, their rehearsal dinners here, their baby showers here and now their children are coming through and doing the same type of thing, so we just hope to keep that going for as long as we can,” said Nina Leist, the manager.

And a fourth generation is in place, poised to continue Ventura’s proud tradition, into the future.