Every time Jacqueline Makris drives past Home Depot, she feels a little sick.
The mere sight of the home-improvement megastore reminds Makris of the 2 1/2 years she spent turning a former city store unit into her dream restaurant, Spyro Gyros and Salads.
Three years ago, Makris walked past 241 N Queen St and fell in love with its architecture.
"I didn't see what was there because it was completely run down," she says. "I saw what it could be."
Makris figured she'd renovate the place in a few months.
How hard could it be.
But she soon found herself working 15 - 20 hours a day.
"I built it myself," she says. "I did one thing at a time. It was a nightmare but I persevered."
Last September (September 2007), Makris, who grew up in the restaurant business, opened, Spyro Gryros, a small casual eatery offering authentic Mediterranean fare.
Makris modelled her first restaurant's relaxed atmosphere after a Greek Taverna.
"People say when they walk in, 'We don't feel like we're in Lancaster we feel like we're on vacation,'" she says.
Makris first envisioned opening something more like a diner.
But she noticed the diverse restaurants downtown did not include Mediterranean food.
So she decided to go Greek.
Spyro Gyros' versatile menu includes vegetarian and Greek dishes, along with homemade desserts and breakfast served all day.
The mere sight of the home-improvement megastore reminds Makris of the 2 1/2 years she spent turning a former city store unit into her dream restaurant, Spyro Gyros and Salads.
Three years ago, Makris walked past 241 N Queen St and fell in love with its architecture.
"I didn't see what was there because it was completely run down," she says. "I saw what it could be."
Makris figured she'd renovate the place in a few months.
How hard could it be.
But she soon found herself working 15 - 20 hours a day.
"I built it myself," she says. "I did one thing at a time. It was a nightmare but I persevered."
Last September (September 2007), Makris, who grew up in the restaurant business, opened, Spyro Gryros, a small casual eatery offering authentic Mediterranean fare.
Makris modelled her first restaurant's relaxed atmosphere after a Greek Taverna.
"People say when they walk in, 'We don't feel like we're in Lancaster we feel like we're on vacation,'" she says.
Makris first envisioned opening something more like a diner.
But she noticed the diverse restaurants downtown did not include Mediterranean food.
So she decided to go Greek.
Spyro Gyros' versatile menu includes vegetarian and Greek dishes, along with homemade desserts and breakfast served all day.
Makris and her mother, Maria do the cooking. Makris handles the vegetarian dishes and salads; her mom makes dishes from her native Greece.
When she was a child, Makris accompanied her parents to work at their Cleveland-area family restaurants. At age 9, she started busing tables, then serving diners at the counter.
"After a while, they gave me both counters," she says.
The Makris family moved to Lancaster about seven years ago.
Until recently, Maria Makris owned the Home Place Restaurant, Leola, where Jacqueline served tables and managed the dining room.
Spyro Gyros is one of the few ultra-late-night options downtown. On weekends, the restaurant stays open -- and even delivers -- until 4 AM.
And yes, there are quite a few takers.
Makris says it's exciting to see a continued renaissance in downtown Lancaster, and especially on her street.
"Lancaster keeps getting better and better," she says.
"It's because of people like us (business and restaurant owners) -- pioneers trying to make the city better"
– excerpted from an article published in the Lancaster New Era on June 4, 2008
When she was a child, Makris accompanied her parents to work at their Cleveland-area family restaurants. At age 9, she started busing tables, then serving diners at the counter.
"After a while, they gave me both counters," she says.
The Makris family moved to Lancaster about seven years ago.
Until recently, Maria Makris owned the Home Place Restaurant, Leola, where Jacqueline served tables and managed the dining room.
Spyro Gyros is one of the few ultra-late-night options downtown. On weekends, the restaurant stays open -- and even delivers -- until 4 AM.
And yes, there are quite a few takers.
Makris says it's exciting to see a continued renaissance in downtown Lancaster, and especially on her street.
"Lancaster keeps getting better and better," she says.
"It's because of people like us (business and restaurant owners) -- pioneers trying to make the city better"
– excerpted from an article published in the Lancaster New Era on June 4, 2008
