Keeping the thanks in Thanksgiving

 Golan Mor knew this year would need to be different.

Golan Mor, executive manager of Garden Fresh Market
loads one of five pallets of food that he donated to the
Rotary Club food drive.

And the executive manager of Garden Fresh Market decided to make a difference. For the past two years, Mor has donated items to be included in boxes of food and other items that are donated by the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club to area needy families.

            He started helping the Rotary Club out with the annual event “a couple of years ago,” after he was approached by Pete Panayiotou, whose Continental Restaurant is a few doors down from Garden Fresh Market on Buffalo Grove. “At first he asked for wholesale prices, but I decided to donate $1,000,” Mor says. Last year, the donation was $2,000.

Buffalo Grove Fire Department Battalion Chief
Shawn Collins packs boxes of food.

            But then the pandemic hit. “This year, given the circumstances I decided to cover the whole thing,” he says. That ‘whole thing’ is nearly $10,000 of food fundamentals to help the needy. The items are all shelf-stable and include, but are not limited to things like sugar, flour, mayonnaise and canned soups.

            “The country has to mobilize like we did two generations ago. Everyone needs to do their part at every level,” Mor says.

 

Shannon O'Connor of Rickin' Jump in
Buffalo Grove loads items for the needy.

           The five pallets of food will help the Rotary Club put together 150 boxes of supplies that will be given to families who are referred to the Rotary Club by officials in school districts 21, 95, 214 as well as the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

            In addition to the food donations, 75 participants will receive a hand-made winter hat, all made by Tammy Dreyer, records clerk for the Kildeer Police Department. Stuffed animals, donated by PetSmart in Kildeer, will be given to children.

Started in 1978 by Wheeling High School and the Wheeling Rotary Club, the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club joined the effort four years later. The initiative is coordinated by former Buffalo Grove chief and current Kildeer Police Chief Steve Balinski, Shawn Collins, Buffalo Grove Fire Department Battalion Fire Chief and Panayiotou.

 

For Pete, there's more at stake than just business during the pandemic

If you search the Continental Restaurant on Google, its listing calls it a “modest eatery serving American & Greek specialties, including breakfast all day & classic desserts.”

Menu items aside, what hits home in the description is “modest.”

Just like its owner, Pete Panayiotou.

Pete Panayiotou

His plight came to light last week in a social media post that said if the state goes into a lockdown in an effort to control the spiraling COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois, Panayiotou may be forced to close The Continental.

It’s a concern for Panayiotou to be sure, but it’s not his primary concern. If you know Pete (as he is affectionately known around town) then it won’t surprise you that his primary concern is for his employees.

That’s Pete.

“It’s not just a problem for me,” he says, “but for every restaurant.” But not every restaurant has a Pete. The Continental opened 25 years this past May and true to form, Pete was hoping to have a celebration. But pandemic be damned, he couldn’t.  Now he’s looking to have one in May of 2021.

That’s not his focus now. It’s obviously on the restaurant. Specifically, on his staff. Talk to Pete about the trials and tribulations of pandemic and without fail, his focus shifts to his staff.

He had 22 employees when things went south last spring. The staff now numbers 20, but only because two found other jobs. The remaining staff is still on board despite the obstacles. “Little by little I started bringing them back,” Panayiotou says. Which makes the 57-year-old immigrant form Cyprus happy. He is especially happy for one employee.

Pete didn’t know just how dire the employee’s situation was until he saw him riding his bike to and from work. “I was thinking the whole summer he rode his bike for fresh air.”

That wasn’t the case. “He had no choice,” Panayiotou says. “He had to sell his car.”

The fact that he’s only lost two employees can be seen as a tribute to Panayiotou and his passion for people and how they return they appreciate what he does.

Especially his customers. “They are so generous,” Panayiotou says. “They love me and I love them. Buffalo Grove is my bread and butter.” He says he’s especially grateful to the various village departments, staff and officials that patronize The Continental.

“The Buffalo Grove Police Department, the mayor (Beverly Sussman) – oh my god –they order from here almost every day.” Other village departments, including the Fire Department, also support The Continental.

He continues to be humbled by the support of his customers, many of whom toss in extra money for employees. “I know 90 percent of my customers by name,” Panayiotou says. After 25 years, the success he’s had goes beyond knowing names.

Take the menu for example. Panayiotou says when he first opened the menu featured items that he liked. Since then he’s added items that reflects the tastes and desires of customers – like chicken soup with matzo balls.

The generosity of his customers is not a one-way street. Panayiotou lets customers list a favorite nonprofit entity (churches, synagogues, charities) and once a month he donates to area organizations.

But when it comes to caring, Panayiotous main focus continues to be his staff – even during the struggles associated with the pandemic.

Panayiotou says every Sunday, his manager goes through the extra tips which are then split among all of the employees. He’ll do whatever he can to help his staff. For example, The Continental has started offering deliver for a $5 fee.  And where does the five bucks go? Not to Panayiotou – but to the driver.

He could use the money to make up the losses he has endured, which are in excess of $150,000, but that’s not his nature. Through it all, Panayiotou maintains an amazingly positive attitude celebrating whatever ‘victories’ come his way.

Take Mother’s Day for example. There were days when he was coming up $1,000 short of his goal. On Mother’s Day, the loss was ‘only’ $300.  To Panayiotou that was a success. The Fourth of July was even better -- Panayiotou says he broke even.

Panayiotou, like other restaurateurs, are all facing the same challenges.

For Peter, however, the continued support shows him that even in light of the pandemic and bans on indoor dining, his customers care.

And he, in return, returns the care.

Passion helps him relish the community

 Jimmy Park is a pretty passionate guy.

He’s passionate about his family.

He’s passionate about hot dogs.

He’s passionate about living in Buffalo Grove.

So, when he had the chance to buy “Wiener Take All” in the Creekside Commons Plaza, 1117 Weiland Road, a year ago, it was a decision driven by passion.

Jimmy Park

“Local hot dog stands are a dying breed,” Park says. By acquiring Wiener Take All last year, he not only took over a hot dog stand, but a Buffalo Grove icon that has been around since 1987. Aside from the bill of fare that runs the gamut from hot dogs to chicken sandwiches, what gives Park energy, as if he needs any more, is the opportunity to be a local business operator and support the community.

You get a sense of his commitment to Buffalo Grove just by looking on the walls at Wiener Take All.  If you’re looking for Chicago sports memorabilia, you won’t find any. What you will find is a collection of local high school jerseys. “Anyone can put up a (Patrick) Kane jersey,” Park says. “But these are kids (whose jerseys adorn the walls) that I know.” Park sponsored four teams in the Buffalo Grove Recreation Association (BGRA) this year, says it is just second nature.

Stevenson jerseys on the wall

“I have been living here for 14 years and have been a customer for 14 years and have been bringing my family (he has two daughters, age 6 and 13, who attend Tripp Elementary and Aptakisic Junior High School) here for 14 years; I wanted to enhance the local flavor of a local business,” he says.

And giving back to the community and those who serve it is why he’ll be giving a free hot dog, small order of fries and drink to veterans, active military personnel, police officers, fire fighters and other frontline healthcare workers this Sunday (Nov. 8). And he won’t be doing it for 60 or 90 minutes – he’ll say thanks to those who serve as long as Wiener Take All is open – which is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For Park, it’s just part of his passion for being a local business man. “People love this place,” he says, “they have for 34 years. This place is special.”

While he likes to tout the food, and what restaurant owner wouldn’t, he doesn’t overlook the crew, Al Aguilar and Victor Brito, who man the gill at Wiener Take All. They share Park’s passion – or maybe it’s the other way around – because after all, Aguilar has been at Wiener Take all for 33 years while Brito for 14. “These guys are amazing,” Park says, “Al is a Wiener Take All favorite, many customers visit him on a daily basis, he’s a true BG staple. It seems as if every kid growing up playing BGRA now comes in with their own kids and he relates to them as ‘I remember you when you weren’t even able to reach the counter,’” Park says. “He’s made a lot of memories and friends.”

Park says that after working in corporate restaurants, he wanted to be his own boss. And given his energy and passion, it seems to be a good match.