Uptown eatery opens again

by Hillary Copsey
Senior City Writer

When Hazim Kader decided to reopen Souvlaki’s Mediterranean Garden, 9 W. State St., he did not advertise or place a sign in the window. He simply went back to work as usual Feb. 15 after a seven-month leave of absence. He did not expect his first night back to be busy.

But as Athens residents filtered into the Uptown bars around 10 p.m., Kader said more and more people stopped to see if lights in the window meant Athens’ oldest Uptown eatery — open since 1974 — was back in business.

“It was just by word of mouth,” Kader said. “Twelve or so people asking me if we were open was 100 by the time the bars closed. People were yelling; it was like Halloween night.”

Kader is the third owner of Souvlaki’s. He and his wife, Feryal, bought the business in 1999 from Michael Kurkal and two other partners. Feryal wanted to cook and Hazim, as an accountant, wanted to be his own boss, he said.

“We are a family business. We treat people the way we like to be treated,” Kader said. Sometimes this includes staying open past their 4 a.m. closing.

Though this formula of attention to customer service and late night munchies such as fried vegetables, gyros and corn dogs seemed to be working, Kader said they closed on graduation day last June because Feryal was a month away from having their first child.

“We needed some time off. Once the baby came — our little girl, Suzie — since it was just me and my wife and she was nursing, we just couldn’t do the hours,” Kader said.

So for more than half the year, Athens residents could not sit on the red Naugahyde seats at Souvlaki’s, play video games in the back or satisfy their late-night cravings for fried zucchini. And they might not have been able to again, except for some persistent Souvlaki’s-goers.

“I started seeing our customers,” Kader said. “People are just asking us to come back. I’m really overwhelmed by people’s reactions. I’m encouraged by their support.”

And the support was evident this first weekend back. Kader said one Athens resident has eaten at the restaurant for four consecutive nights. So many other customers asked him about his daughter, 7-month-old Suzan, Kader said he put up her picture on the counter, though he thought it was corny.

“You know when you lose something and then find it again? That’s the look I see on people’s faces,” Kader said.

Souvlaki’s alternative menu was missed during the past months, said Larry Payne, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce president. But other Uptown eateries are not afraid of losing their late-night clientele now that Souvlaki’s has returned.

At least 200 customers crowd into Pita Pit, 8 N. Court St., just after 2 a.m. when the bars close every Friday and Saturday, said Phil Jessen, general manager. He does not expect that number to decrease.

“Our customers are pretty loyal,” Jessen said. “The people that come in are pretty excited to be here.”

Customers who eat subs from Jimmy John’s, 16 S. Court St., which also is open until 4 a.m., should keep the store’s revenue from falling, said Sarah Slater, person in charge.

“We have a crowd that orders almost everyday. I don’t think they’re going to leave,” Slater said.

But Slater does expect Souvlaki’s to be busy. She grew up in Athens and said Souvlaki’s always has been a hangout for Uptown revelers.

And if Souvlaki’s stays as busy as its first weekend, little Suzie might spend a few more Saturday nights like she did the last one — sitting on her mother’s hip at the cash register, partying with the rest of the kids, Kader said.