A family restaurant is celebrating four decades in Chatham.
Family owned and operated by the Paraskevopoulos family, Smitty’s Restaurant opened in 1980 as a pancake house.
The establishment slowly changed into more of a family-oriented restaurant over the years, adding more lunch, dinner and kids options to the menu.
Smitty's quickly began to expand its services in the early '80s, expanding with Aristo’s Banquet Hall to accommodate catering for events including weddings and business meetings.
While the business was expanding and transforming, the patriarch of the Paraskevopoulos family retired and the restaurant was taken over by his son, Tom, as well as his wife and close family.
Current owner Tom Paraskevopoulos said being able to adapt to change has been one of the keys to longevity in the service industry.
“Being in the restaurant business, especially in a family-focused community like Chatham-Kent, means that we are focused on making sure that we are offering the right mix of service, food, and atmosphere for everyone,” said Paraskevopoulos. “Being able to adapt and change with the times to meet people’s needs has been so important. We have added new meal options, services, and have even joined Instagram to meet people where they are looking. After all, it’s about our customers.”
Meanwhile, the Smitty's restaurant chain itself is also celebrating an important milestone this year- turning the big 6-0.
The chain was first introduced in Canada in 1960 and expanded to franchise locations across the country. To celebrate the anniversary, the company has introduced an exclusive new menu
“From our regulars to our new customers, we greet everyone who comes through the doors with a smile and a delicious meal, which is why they have kept coming back and given us the privilege of being a part of the community,” said Paraskevopoulos.
