SPYRO’S PANCAKE HOUSE: ONE FAMILY’S AMERICAN DREAM

We have all heard the phrase “The American Dream,” but have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “If I saw the American dream, would I recognize it?” I’d like to tell you the story of how one family not only recognized the American Dream, but worked hard to achieve it.

Spyro Giatras was born on the island of Zakynthes, Greece. He immigrated to America in 1966. His wife Jean, although an American, traces her roots to Albania. They have two children: a daughter, 13 and a son, 12.

Spyro and Jean did not choose the restaurant business as much as they were destined to continue the work both families had done for as long as either could remember. Many of the recipes were passed down from Jean’s father and other friends.

We have all heard the saying “life can change in an instant” for the Giatras it happened just that quickly. While discussing another matter with their insurance man, they learned that a south side business owner desired to sell.

Residents of Waynedale would often drive by the restaurant and speculate what it might look like inside and when it might open. We would later learn the reason for the delay was that Spyro and Jean did most of the remodeling themselves. Their personal attention to detail is what sets Spyro’s apart from other restaurants in the area.

Spyro’s is located at 4410 Bluffton Road. Both breakfast and lunch are served between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Breakfast prices range from $1.95 for a short stack of pancakes to $7.95 for “skirt” steak and two eggs. Lunch prices range from $3.75 for a grilled cheese sandwich and soup to $5.75 for something as appetizing as a specialty salad. Also available are Senior Citizen discounts.

“We are living the American Dream,” says Spyro. “Running a family-based business while our children work with us.” The Giatras family is proving that the American Dream can still be achieved.