In a full circle moment, Jonathon Atalalis has inherited his pappou Panagioti Kitsiris’ enterprising spirit, opening his self-titled cafe in Kew.
Pappou Panagioti visits Jonathon’s every week, watching over the cafe and checking on the nursery.
“It’s great. Pappou comes here, walks around, and spends his time sitting in the cafe. He enjoys it. I think it’s nice for him, because he’s always loved being in the garden too,” Mr Atalalis tells The Greek Herald.
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Mr Kitsiris had experience tailoring in Greece, starting a business with his cousin. Their time together would be interrupted by the mandatory military service, followed by the young cafe owner’s grandfather making the decision to come to Australia in the 50s.
“Pappou created a pretty big tailoring business in the city after coming to Australia with nothing. He was here for the ‘56 Olympics. He found jobs across a few industries but then decided to go out on his own,” Mr Atalalis said.
“His shop had moved a few times; he was on Lonsdale at one point, then Russell Street. He had a side business making the handkerchiefs for suits and was in Myer and David Jones at one point. But the shop had some pretty big clients, like Elton John and the American basketball team.”
While Jonathon’s may not have quite yet had the celebrity visitors that pappou Panagioti’s tailoring business had, it is the magic of their bond that give the cafe its charming and homely air.
Every detail of Jonathon’s somehow seems like a binding thread between Mr Atalalis and his grandfather, be it deliberate or by coincidence.
The young cafe owner recalls memories of growing up at pappou’s house, spending hours in the garden that had been carefully cultivated for years.
“It’s amazing seeing how much he’s done for all his family. He came here with nothing, and built his life and then helped his kids. Everything he ever did was always about looking forward. He always says, ‘When I’d imagined things, it wasn’t just my own kids that I was always picturing, I’d think of my grandkids down the track’,” Mr Atalalis said.
“There was this big orange tree at his old place. Once we left the house he said, ‘I remember planting that tree, and always pictured myself sitting under it with my grandkids, eating oranges.’ It’s crazy to think that that would have been 30 years, 40 years back, well before we were around.”
A love for the garden seemed to have cottoned on to the rest of the family, as Mr Atalalis’ parents ran their own nursery in Mount Evelyn.
Prior to the nursery, his father had worked in a tavern in Surrey Hills, sparking the cafe owner’s initial passion for hospitality. In a way, it was a no-brainer to bring the family’s expertise and interests together to create the cafe.
Nestled in the Olive Tree & The Wheelbarrow Nursery, surrounded by the lush flora, Jonathan’s serves up a mix of breakfast delights and mediterranean classics.
“It was funny, initially we said we can’t go too Greek. It’s not typical of the area, we tried not to and then slowly, slowly, everyone just kept coming in and ordering all the Mediterranean dishes. Eventually we added more Greek dishes onto the menu,” Mr Atalalis said.
The community has really wrapped their arms around Jonathon’s, embracing the cultural flair Mr Atalalis and his family have brought.
“It’s been really nice. I’ve even had some old friends come through who I hadn’t seen in years. We’re looking forward to seeing the place grow,” Mr Atalalis said.
“But it’s been great getting pappou out of the house and giving him a place to hang out with his family. He looks forward to coming and we look forward to him being here.”
