Business of the Week: Athenian Grill

When owners, Spiros and Shelly Kontogiannis, first moved to Northern California from southern California, they had no idea they would open a restaurant that would become one of the better known staples of the Suisun City community for 14 years. In fact, their plan was to go into a totally different direction altogether.

“We had an opportunity to go in the medical hazardous waste division, so we bought a house up here and the company we’d bought into sold,” said Shelly.

From there the Kontogiannis’ thought they might go into building prospective housing in the area. It was not until they talked with a friend that was, at the time, Suisun City’s City Manager, that they began to consider starting their own restaurant.

“We saw an opportunity on the waterfront with the Redevelopment Agency,” said Shelly.

The couple had previously owned Greek fast food restaurants in Southern California, but this would be their first full service restaurant. Spiros, who had previously worked as a contractor and had experience in construction since the age of 13, built the restaurant from the ground up. He even made a home on top of the restaurant, and moved his parents into it.

“We had a little one and they watched the little one while we ran the restaurant,” said Shelly.

Shelly said that the restaurant has always maintained a family environment. When their daughter was just three years of age, she could often be seen walking around, greeting customers. Returning customers, too, brought their children to the restaurant and Shelly has been able to see many of children grow older and have children of their own.

“That’s how restaurants make it for so long,” she said. Families keep growing and they keep coming back.

Athenian Grill is not just a family restaurant. Suisun City Firefighters love to come by for the double pastrami burgers. The giant size meal is a must for new firefighters and serves as a kind of initiation into the department for them. Amongst other popular customer favorites are the baklava. Shelly said the recipes for many of the Greek items have been handed down in Spiro’s family from generation to generation. Those not as familiar with Greek food also have a choice of American food on the menu.

Shelly said students are another group of diners she enjoys seeing. Every month gift certificates are given to the various schools in the area to students that have show exemplary behavior, whether it be for good grades or improvement in grades or community service. It is just one of the many ways Shelly said Athenian Grill participates in giving back to the community, saying as the restaurant recognizes people and organizations in the community, they in turn support a local business.

“Overall it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Shelly.