Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511150038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
A native of the Grecian province of Evrytania, Kappas came to Blacksburg in 1921 to open his restaurant. The location changed twice before he settled at the corner of Main Street and College Avenue. It began as Nick's, then became Louie's, and for a while, the Blue Ribbon Restaurant.
"Since everybody said let's go to 'The Greek's' for dinner - they decided, 'Let's change it to Greek's,''' explained his daughter-in-law, Maria Kappas.
The white-haired Nick Kappas worked well into his 80s, even after Greek's closed, helping his son, Chris, with The Cellar, which the family eventually sold, and Souvlaki restaurants.
"He was an institution in this town - everybody knew him," said friend and loyal customer Thomas Macadoo. "Customers would walk in [to the restaurant] and he'd say, 'I ain't doing no good. How are you?' That was his line."
Macadoo, a retired Virginia Tech professor who taught Greek and Latin, started eating dinners at Greek's in the late '60s.
His favorite memories of Kappas center on Dec. 6, the day members of the Greek Orthodox community celebrate Kappas' name saint, St. Nicholas. Rather than throw a party for a person's birthday, Greeks join together to observe Name Day.
"When Greeks throw a party, they throw a party, with lots of food," Macadoo said. "About the time you think you're well satisfied with chicken livers wrapped in bacon and meatballs, they'd bring in another round of food."
Macadoo said he felt honored to be surrounded by the close-knit Greek community that stretches from Roanoke to Winston-Salem, N.C.
Maria Kappas said the family will celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas again this year.
"My son is named after his grandaddy," she said. "I hope he turns out as wonderful as his namesake."
by CNB