The owner of the landmark South Philadelphia cheesesteak stand who once told customers to order in English is scheduled to have cancer surgery at a New York hospital.
A manager at Geno's Steaks says 71-year-old owner Joey Vento is to have surgery Thursday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.
Geno's manager Joe Perno told The Associated Press early Thursday that Vento was diagnosed with colon/rectal cancer "a few months ago" after having a colonoscopy.
In June 2006, Vento and Geno's grabbed headlines for two small signs posted at the shop stating,
"This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING 'PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH."'
Vento said he posted the signs due to concerns over the debate on immigration reform and the increasing number of people who couldn't order in English.
