REMEMBERING GUS- The Fountoukis Family will be thanking their customers and honouring the memory of the late Gus Fountoukis Monday, July 2 with complimentary Greek food and coffee at Gus’s Family Restaurant. Pictured are (Clockwise from left) Tina Fountoukis, Mike Fountoukis, Wendy Rose and Cheryl Fountoukis. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
JASON PARKS
STAFF WRITER
“Hello, my friend!”
That’s the greeting said by the late Gus Fountoukis virtually every time a customer- new or returning- entered his Gus’s Family Restaurant on Main Street.
A lasting fixture in the local restaurant industry for over 35 years dating back to the famous Burger Palace, it was just about a year ago when Fountoukis passed away.
Fountoukis treated everyone in this community as a friend and continues to be missed each and everyday by his family here in the county and in Greece as well as his friends and loyal customers.
Gus’s son, Mike, continues to operate the family business in the same manner his father did.
“It has been a real challenge to fill this man’s shoes,” said Mike of his late father. “We are making some changes, ones that Gus had planned to do. For instance, we have a new menu rolling out this month and we will be offering some County wines and, as always, we will be utilizing County products and produce when in season.”
The renovations that Gus and Mike had planned before his passing are underway and the back dining room is in the process of being fully renovated.
Gus’s Family Restaurant regulars include some who have been meeting daily for breakfast for over 20 years and those that started out as regular customers are now considered friends of the Fountoukis family.
“There is no question this lovely, quiet, respectful man of Greek origin loved to cook for all of us and he did so for over 35 years,” family friend Wendy Davis said.
The Fountoukis family wished to thank the community for their support and understanding during the difficult days following Gus’s passing and the transition period that followed.
“We could not be more fortunate to live and work in this amazing community and we are so grateful that all regulars continue to stop by as well as the new comers who are discovering our restaurant,” said Mike. “I had the extreme honour to have been taught by this talented chef for the over 18 years – He was my teacher, my mentor, but mostly, my dad.”
The staff at Gus’s are inviting this supportive community to join them at the restaurant July 2 for complimentary Greek desserts and coffee as a small token of their thanks to Prince Edward County and in celebration of the life of Gus Fountoukis.
“Gus will always be Gus and he will always be missed,” Davis added.
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