The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
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JOU RNAL otmj.com
th
ursd ay, Oct ober 17, 2013
V ol . 23 #20
Junior League rings in festive fundraiser
about town Page 3
ZooGala glams up with ‘Old Hollywood’ theme
news page 20
John and Ottavia Krontiras bought their Lakeshore Drive home in 1975. The couple met at a wedding in New Jersey. John was the best man, and Ottavia was the maid of honor. Journal photos by Lee walls Jr.
A Tale of Two Cultures
New taste in town: McMillan’s FoodBar opens
business page 36
John and Ottavia Krontiras Combine Traditions at Their Lakeshore Drive Home
Homewood
Homewood Historical Society Meeting Oct. 19, 10 a.m. Homewood Public Library The Homewood Historical Society will host John Krontiras at its meeting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the Homewood Public Library. Krontiras, the owner of Nabeel’s Cafe and Market, will introduce his book, “Beloved Family Recipes: Family Recipes and Experiences from Travels Around the World,” at the meeting in the library’s main auditorium. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The public is invited to attend this free event. Homemade refreshments will be served.
By Donna Cornelius
Journal features writer
John and Ottavia Krontiras know a good thing when they see it. They still live in the Lakeshore Drive house they bought in 1975. In 1993, they bought Nabeel’s and expanded the Homewood specialty market by adding a thriving restaurant. But it’s likely both would say they made their smartest decision in 1965. The year before, John, a native of southern Greece, and Ottavia, whose roots are in northern Italy, met at a wedding in New Jersey. “A friend asked me to be his best man,” John said. “Everybody was saying how beautiful the maid of honor was. A year later, I married her.” The couple came south in 1972 when Birmingham-based EBSCO Industries bought the publishing company where John worked. He became vice president of marketing and information technology at EBSCO, a job he held until 1991. Ottavia said she and her husband were living in an apartment when she noticed that a ranch-style house on Lakeshore Drive was for sale.
Please turn to page 28
cool styles for cold weather page 39
hoover paves way for ER P. 14 • Halloween fun p. 16 • fashion buzz about busy bees p. 38 • Vestavia schools help Dyslexic students p. 42