The following was submitted Tuesday on behalf of the Anchor Bar:
The staff and management of the Anchor Bar and Anchor Bar Franchise and Development Co. are saddened to share that Ivano Toscani, owner and general manager of the Anchor Bar, passed away today from a prolonged illness. Ivano was 68 years old.
"Those of us who were fortunate enough to know and work with Ivano have lost a dear friend and colleague, whose spirit will forever be ingrained as part of Anchor Bar's history," said Mark Dempsey, VP of the Anchor Bar Franchise & Development Co. "Ivano's leadership and guidance at the Anchor Bar cultivated a Buffalo staple into a world-famous food brand, sought by tourists and locals alike for the past several decades. We were blessed to have him as part of the Anchor Bar family and will dearly miss him."
Ivano moved from his native Milan, Italy, to Western New York in 1973. He was originally introduced to Frank and Teressa Bellissimo, founders of the Anchor Bar, by a mutual friend. Frank and Ivano worked for many years together, and Frank taught Ivano every aspect of the restaurant business. Following the passing of Frank and Teressa, as well as their son, Dominic, Ivano continued to grow the Anchor Bar business into what it is today: the internationally recognized birthplace of the Buffalo Wing.
Ivano launched the Anchor Bar bottled-sauce line in 1999, retailing in more than 3,000 supermarkets worldwide. In 2009, Ivano realized his dream of franchising Anchor Bar restaurants. Today, the company has 15 locations.
For several decades, Ivano was the face of the Anchor Bar brand, and was featured on countless national television programs, including CBS's "The Morning Show," The Food Network and The Travel Channel. He and the Anchor Bar were also the recipient of two gold medal James Beard Foundation Awards, along with numerous other awards, proclamations and honors.
The Anchor Bar Co., staff and franchisees will honor Ivano's legacy by continuing the work he loved and cherished.
