Spiros Georgogianis, 72, who owns Alexander’s in Petersburg, seasoned some chicken during lunch on Thursday. The restaurant, which has been serving the city for 45 years, is closing on Saturday. “I won’t go away,” Georgogianis said.
Lynn Georgogianis takes orders from Carolyn Bain (left) and Barbara Hale of Dinwiddie. “I’m happy for them, they’ve earned it, but they will be greatly missed,” Bain said of the longtime owners of Alexander’s in Petersburg. Bain has been a customer for decades.
The restaurant at 101 W. Bank St. in Petersburg has been serving up Greek, Italian and American cuisine since 1977.
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis (left) and his brother Vasili (right) work lunch on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis hugs longtime customer Shelby Arpe on July 28, 2022. Arpe said she used to have a catering business in Petersburg and has known Spiros for over 40 years. It's "real sad" she said about the closing. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis brings lunch to a customer on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis, seen here on July 28, 2022, said the restaurant has never been as busy as it has the last few days. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis adds the finishing touches onto some desserts on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
ABOVE: “We just created a real family-friendly atmosphere,” Spiros Georgogianis said of his restaurant, Alexander’s.
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Here, Spiros and Lynn Georgogianis takes have their picture taken with customers Carolyn Bain (left) and Barbara Hale (center), from Dinwiddie. "I'm happy for them, they've earned it, but they will be greatly missed," said Bain on July 28, 2022. She said she has been a customer for decades. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
LEFT: Spiros and Lynn Georgogianis handled the end of Thursday’s lunch rush. They met when Lynn started working at the restaurant 27 years ago. “To me, it’s like a fairy tale,” she said of their love story.
On Thursday morning, a line of customers waited around the block outside Alexander’s in Petersburg to grab one last meal before the restaurant closes for good on Saturday.
Or whenever the food runs out.
So many people have showed up to say goodbye to owner Spiros Georgogianis; his wife, Lynn; and brother Vasili, known as Bill to many, that the restaurant may close earlier than planned.
“We have regular customers who come in four or five times a week,” Georgogianis said in between prepping for another busy day of service. “Everybody comes in to eat with me — it doesn’t matter who — politicians, judges, lawyers. Everybody who comes to Petersburg, they have to stop at Alexander’s.”
The tiny little restaurant at 101 W. Bank St. in Petersburg has been serving Greek, Italian and American cuisine for over 45 years.
Georgogianis emigrated from Greece to the U.S. and started his restaurant in Petersburg, first as Piccolo’s, then as Alexander’s, named after his father, in 1977. He creates all of the dishes from scratch himself, such as veal parmigiana, Athenian-style chicken and fresh Greek dressing.
“If I don’t like it, I won’t serve it,” Georgogianis said.
“I have been going to Alexander’s for as long as I can remember,” said Kimberly Ann Calos, a longtime customer. “My family dined there several times a week when we lived in Hopewell. My staff and I eat there regularly, usually grabbing carry-out Greek salads with their signature Greek dressing, which is everyone in my circle’s absolute favorite.”
Calos was just one of many who showed up this week to enjoy one last meal at Alexander’s.
Many customers hugged and embraced Georgogianis and his wife, who met at the restaurant. Lynn began working at Alexander’s as a waitress 27 years ago as a single mom. She and Spiros fell in love and got married. The two have been working side by side at Alexander’s ever since.
“We just created a real family-friendly atmosphere,” Georgogianis said.
Georgogianis, Lynn and brother Bill regularly work 75 hours a week, doing everything from front of service to cooking in the kitchen.
It is with sadness in our hearts that we notify our friends, family and customers that we will be closing our doors...
“I’m so happy for them, they’ve earned it, but they will be greatly missed,” said Carolyn Bain of Dinwiddie. She’s been coming to Alexander’s for decades.
The restaurant has been so slammed in the past few days, ever since announcing its closure on Facebook, that Maegan McQuiggan, who is the daughter of a former waitress, was helping clear tables and wash dishes. Her mom had stopped by for lunch earlier in the week and saw that Lynn was swamped, doing everything herself, and called her daughter, who was in between jobs, to help out.
At 72, Georgogianis said it was time to retire.
“I will miss everything, especially the people,” he said. “A lot of friends who I’ve known since I’ve been here. I will miss the contact with them and seeing them every day.”
But he’s looking forward to traveling with Lynn and spending more time with his three grandchildren, especially JJ, his 13-year-old grandson whom he calls his “bright eye.”
He also plans to participate in festivals and pop-ups in the near future, selling Alexander’s fresh Greek dressings and desserts.
“I won’t go away. I’m not going to sit home, no, that’s for sure,” Georgogianis said.
Spiros Georgogianis, 72, who owns Alexander’s in Petersburg, seasoned some chicken during lunch on Thursday. The restaurant, which has been serving the city for 45 years, is closing on Saturday. “I won’t go away,” Georgogianis said.
The restaurant at 101 W. Bank St. in Petersburg has been serving up Greek, Italian and American cuisine since 1977.
Lynn Georgogianis takes orders from Carolyn Bain (left) and Barbara Hale of Dinwiddie. “I’m happy for them, they’ve earned it, but they will be greatly missed,” Bain said of the longtime owners of Alexander’s in Petersburg. Bain has been a customer for decades.
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis brings lunch to a customer on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
ABOVE: “We just created a real family-friendly atmosphere,” Spiros Georgogianis said of his restaurant, Alexander’s.
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis hugs longtime customer Shelby Arpe on July 28, 2022. Arpe said she used to have a catering business in Petersburg and has known Spiros for over 40 years. It's "real sad" she said about the closing. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
LEFT: Spiros and Lynn Georgogianis handled the end of Thursday’s lunch rush. They met when Lynn started working at the restaurant 27 years ago. “To me, it’s like a fairy tale,” she said of their love story.
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis (left) and his brother Vasili (right) work lunch on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis, seen here on July 28, 2022, said the restaurant has never been as busy as it has the last few days. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis adds the finishing touches onto some desserts on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Here, Spiros and Lynn Georgogianis takes have their picture taken with customers Carolyn Bain (left) and Barbara Hale (center), from Dinwiddie. "I'm happy for them, they've earned it, but they will be greatly missed," said Bain on July 28, 2022. She said she has been a customer for decades. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Colleen Curran is the living editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She also covers arts and entertainment, pop culture and social media.
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Spiros Georgogianis, 72, who owns Alexander’s in Petersburg, seasoned some chicken during lunch on Thursday. The restaurant, which has been serving the city for 45 years, is closing on Saturday. “I won’t go away,” Georgogianis said.
Lynn Georgogianis takes orders from Carolyn Bain (left) and Barbara Hale of Dinwiddie. “I’m happy for them, they’ve earned it, but they will be greatly missed,” Bain said of the longtime owners of Alexander’s in Petersburg. Bain has been a customer for decades.
The restaurant at 101 W. Bank St. in Petersburg has been serving up Greek, Italian and American cuisine since 1977.
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis (left) and his brother Vasili (right) work lunch on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis hugs longtime customer Shelby Arpe on July 28, 2022. Arpe said she used to have a catering business in Petersburg and has known Spiros for over 40 years. It's "real sad" she said about the closing. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis brings lunch to a customer on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis, seen here on July 28, 2022, said the restaurant has never been as busy as it has the last few days. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Owner Spiros Georgogianis adds the finishing touches onto some desserts on July 28, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
ABOVE: “We just created a real family-friendly atmosphere,” Spiros Georgogianis said of his restaurant, Alexander’s.
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday. Here, Spiros and Lynn Georgogianis takes have their picture taken with customers Carolyn Bain (left) and Barbara Hale (center), from Dinwiddie. "I'm happy for them, they've earned it, but they will be greatly missed," said Bain on July 28, 2022. She said she has been a customer for decades. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Alexander's, a popular restaurant that has been serving Petersburg for 45 years, will be closing on Saturday, July 30, 2022. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
LEFT: Spiros and Lynn Georgogianis handled the end of Thursday’s lunch rush. They met when Lynn started working at the restaurant 27 years ago. “To me, it’s like a fairy tale,” she said of their love story.
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