Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

After Shutdown, Parthenon Restaurant Reopens In Greektown

By Stephanie Lulay | April 18, 2016 12:26pm
 The city's Health Department shut down The Parthenon, an iconic Greektown restaurant in March.
The city's Health Department shut down The Parthenon, an iconic Greektown restaurant in March.
View Full Caption
dnainfo/Stephanie Lulay

GREEKTOWN — After the city shut it down last month, iconic Greektown restaurant The Parthenon reopened Friday. 

Following two failed health inspections, The Parthenon was shut down by the city at the end of March. On Friday, the restaurant was reinspected by the Chicago Health Department, passed inspection and was cleared to reopen, said Matt Smith, health department spokesman. 

The closure didn't affect the restaurant's business, owner Chris Liakouras said Monday. The restaurant reopened at 10 a.m. Friday and served more than 1,000 customers over the weekend, he said. 

"Everything is 100 percent corrected," Liakouras said. 

While closed, the restaurant's kitchen was renovated and new stainless steel appliances were installed, the owner said. 

According to Chicago Health Department, The Parthenon failed two health inspections in March. On March 22, the restaurant was cited for roaches, rodent droppings and other violations including no hot water in a women's restroom.

On March 29, the restaurant failed again. 

While some violations had been corrected, city inspectors said they found "12 rodent droppings in the basement" and "approx. 30 live roaches in the kitchen, dishwashing area and in the employee restroom," among other problems.

The restaurant opened in 1968 and "is unquestionably one of Chicago's most popular restaurants as well as the city's oldest full-service, classic Greek restaurant," according to The Parthenon's website. 

In March, Parthenon owners opened Aviva, a Mediterranean restaurant, in The Parthenon's former banquet room at 310 S. Halsted St. 

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: