Larry Gene, founder of Gene's Restaurant, passes away at 91

Stratford has lost one of its culinary legends, as Larry Gene passed away January 3.

Gene established the popular chinese food restaurant that bore his family name in 1970, running it until he turned 70 back in 2004.

In a story that was published on StratfordToday.ca in July 2024, Larry’s son, Ken, talked about growing up in the restaurant and how Larry was always a presence there.

“Myself and my brother, we’d come to the restaurant for lunch and then go back to school, and even come back over during the evening,” he said. “And then we would eat here and then we would leave with my mother. My dad would stick around and keep working.”

Gene’s Restaurant originally opened at 38 Erie Street before it moved to its current home at 81 Ontario Street in 1975.

According to his obituary, Gene was an avid sports fan and cheered for the New York Yankees, but he always had basketball, hockey or baseball on the television.

He developed his cooking skills while working in restaurants in Windsor, New York City and Stratford before he and wife Rae founded the family restaurant in 1970. In 1980, they purchased 104 Downie Street and opened House of Gene which operated until 2000.

A memorial service will be held for Larry Gene at the W.G. Young Funeral Home on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m., prior to his funeral service.