The familiar sparkling blue and white of George’s Greek Café found a new home yesterday, as the popular downtown restaurant welcomed customers to the first day of business in a new, larger space a few blocks from the original location. The new restaurant sits on Pine Avenue, just as the old one did, but has opted for a space with an Ocean view, moving a few blocks south to Pine and Broadway.
Colorful frescoes dazzle the inside walls, and the outdoor patio provides shady refuge from the summer heat, making for a very pleasant lunch hour. The extra room allows more patrons to be served, but after ten years in the original location on Pine and 3rd Street, it can be hard to let go.
“I miss it already,” says owner George Loizides, who greets every familiar customer with a hug and new friends with a handshake. All receive complimentary smiles. George was very fond of the old location, but is excited about the new site as well, which is an important thing. After all, his opinion matters most.
George’s son Dmitri founded the restaurant in its original Pine & 3rd location ten years ago, naming his creation after his father. Through the years, it gained a reputation as a delicious and affordable place to enjoy a meal in a friendly atmosphere. A second restaurant operates on 2nd Street, but the Loizides’ hearts lie on Pine. And they may end up giving more to the area than they receive.
George’s move down the street puts them in a higher-profile area than before, with more visibility to traffic coming from Ocean Blvd. or the Pike. Some restaurants in the Pine area have faced recent struggles with diminished foot traffic and effects from the economy, but many expect the attention gained from adding George’s to the area will spark new life downtown.
Spacious indoor seating is brightened by frescoes of the scenic Greek coast
Outdoor patio offers shady refuge and a cool breeze
A taste of Greece wherever you turn
Owner George Loizides, where he’s most likely standing at this exact moment
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor