By Peter Oglos
My Father’s Yeeros has become the latest Greek business to take over the Bayside area, and its two owners, John and Olympia Plangetis, couldn’t be happier with the feedback.
The restaurant’s origins come from John’s parents, Stamatios (Steve) “Taki” Plangetis and his wife Maria, who founded The Yeeros Shop on Illawarra Road in Marrickville in 1976. Back then, the shop quickly became a local icon, renowned for its Greek yeeros and hand-cut chips, which attracted long lines of customers.
Eventually passing the business on to John and Olympia in 2000, the pair ultimately sold the business in 2013.
But in the closing weeks of 2024, the family’s iconic shop was back in a new location and with a fresh name that paid tribute to the man who started it all.
“I don’t think he kind of really realise the importance or the symbolism of it until he came and saw it on the sign and saw his photograph on the wall and this story again,” Olympia told The Greek Herald when asked about Taki’s reaction to the new shop’s name.
“Then people were coming in and he kind of realised it’s part of a tradition and part of the legacy that he’s left behind.
“I don’t think he realised how much he was loved, honestly.”
The shop has taken life in the Ramsgate Beach community with the line to get a taste of the gyros snaking out the door every night, seven days a week.
It mirrors the excitement seen decades ago at The Yeeros Shop in Marrickville, a place many Sydneysiders still recall fondly for its authentic flavours and welcoming atmosphere. Much like its predecessor, My Father’s Yeeros has become a gathering place for people to enjoy traditional Greek dishes in a modern setting.
My Father’s Yeeros’ use of hand-cut chips and homemade tzatziki is bringing back old fans of the Marrickville shop and new gyros-lovers from the Bayside area.
Olympia attributed the success of the business to the outpouring of love from the community at large.
“Everything comes from our heart and it’s all about keeping it authentic,” she told The Greek Herald.
“We are very grateful and completely overwhelmed by the support. We’re so thankful to be welcomed into the community.”
The Greek Herald also couldn’t finish its interview with Olympia without asking her what dish everyone should try on their first visit.
“Our beef gyros – because it’s made in-house, it is made fresh daily and that’s something that is at the core of what my mother and father-in-law started and because I’m trying to keep true to that.”
