CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) -- While Sorge's Restaurant in Corning closed its doors to the public on New Year's Eve, Saturday afternoon marked the decades-old business's official goodbye. Michael and Christina Sorge, the owners of the Italian Restaurant on Market Street were today's guests of honor at their retirement celebration.

Friends, family, and loyal customers came to Sorge's for one last get-together. People gathered to thank Michael and Christina, also known as Mike and Chris, for their years of service to the community. Guests enjoyed drinks, snacks, and desserts as they struck up a conversation with one another.

"Well, it's mixed emotion," said Mike Sorge. "I've been involved in the restaurant for 50 years, so that's a long time, but my wife and I are both in our 70s. It's time to move on to the next chapter in our lives."

Guests enjoyed drinks, snacks, and desserts as they struck up a conversation with one another. But, more importantly, they spent the time together and reminisced on memories made at Sorge's and, there was plenty to talk about as Sorge's has been open since 1951.

Through several trials and tribulations including the 1972 flood and a devastating fire in 2008, Sorge's has stood the test of time and remained open for over 73 years.

However, as Mike shared, it's time for the next chapter in his and his family's life. He has one last message for the community before officially moving forward.

"The message is certainly thank you," said Sorge. "We've developed a lot of loyal customers, a lot of friends over the course of 50 years that we've been here, many, many friends, friends that we consider family almost. So we feel that's unusual and it's really a final thank you, a final goodbye."

The Sorge family, both blood-related and not, are helping Mike and Chris onto the next journey of retirement and spending more time with their loved ones.

Sorge also gave a huge thanks to all of Market Street for being so kind to them over the years.