Tsovolos known for big portions, bigger heart

Story by Chuck Ballaro

If you go to the Athenian Restaurant at 1130 Old Tamiami Trail and leave hungry, you will be a rarity

That was something Chris Tsovolos was known for as the owner of the landmark North Fort Myers diner for more than 30 years

Tsovolos passed away May 16, leaving the restaurant to his family, who have been running things since his passing. The Athenian closed briefly while arrangements were made, but reopened Saturday.

Chris Tsovolos bought the Athenian (then called Dynasty) shortly after getting married in 1990 after working in the restaurant business throughout Astoria, a section of Queens in New York City which had a heavy Greek population

He originally owned the diner with a partner, whom he bought out in 1996, and at one time owned three Athenian restaurants, two in North Fort Myers and one in South Fort Myers before selling two of them and keeping the original.

He carried the restaurant through good times and times that were a challenge

In 2005, Tsovolos doubled the size of the eatery and got through the Great Recession a few years later A “ceiling burglar " hit his place in 2019, and in 2020, he brought it through the pandemic, keeping the diner open for to-go orders only.

Then there was Hurricane Ian last year, more than a challenge for all

“We took a lot of damage and we’re still working through our claim Everything they had to fix came out of pocket, while waiting for that,” said Vivian, Chris’ daughter “Also, we were broken into and looted.”

Tsovolos was known for serving great portions (particularly dinner) at reasonable prices. It has been common for people to take a large part of their meals home in containers for a plentiful lunch the next day

“That was in keeping true to what diners were like in New York You had the comfort food and the large portions and free refills on coffee,” said Vivian “I stayed true to that style as much as he could. The cost of everything has gone up, but everyone still gets the soup and salad and rolls and dessert.”

This meant a long line of long-time customers, whom Tsovolos always kept in mind It also meant they got to know Tsovolos’ family, who often worked there from the earliest ages

“We didn’t know any better We grew up here We would come here after school when he was working. We started working here in the summer and college,” Vivian said.

As a father, Vivian said he was always there for them when they had a problem, good for a laugh or two and was a stickler for them getting good grades

“He was a jokester with us and with the customers There wasn’t a moment when he wasn’t joking or talking us through whatever it was,” Vivian said, getting a little misty. “He really was never too busy when it came to us. He was just a genuinely good person.”

There was a viewing and a funeral at the Great Church in Port Charlotte and he was buried at the Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte

Vivian said the goal is to bring his body to Greece to be buried there with his father, as his goal was to retire and return to Greece, where he lived as a child