BUCKTOWN — George Ziamparas, the patriarch of a beloved Bucktown restaurant serving Chicago-style hot dogs and Greek specialties such as gyros and avgolemono soup, has died. He was 68.
Ziamparas, who died on Monday after an illness, was born in Nafpaktos, Greece, according to his wife of 43 years, Mary Ziamparas.
He helped run George's Hot Dogs at 1876 N. Damen Ave., which was started by his father-in-law Vasilios Kotopoulis in 1948.
Mary said she was working with her dad in the restaurant when George walked in and asked for her hand in marriage. The two met for the first time six years prior, when Mary was only 12 at a wedding in Canada.
The couple's son, Tasso Ziamparas, also helps run the business, which was honored by Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) in an ordinance he introduced in City Council to commemorate the 65th anniversary of George's Hot Dogs in 2013.
Mary Ziamparas, who is often the first to greet customers and take food orders, put a sign on the door informed customers that George died on Sept. 12 and the restaurant will be closed through Friday.
"George was an amazing person with a genuine heart and his dedication to his customers and to the Bucktown community will never be forgotten," the sign says.
On Friday, while on a break from slicing lamb for visitors on a Chicago Food Tour, Mary said her husband "loved to work" and was last in the restaurant a month ago.
"He just loved the customers and the little kids, he would give them lollipops. He would never say no to anything," Mary said.
According to the Coca Cola company, which featured the family-owned and operated restaurant on its website last spring, the eatery was not named for Ziamparas "but rather the common name George which has significance in the Greek culture and religion."
Lt. Joseph Giambrone with the Shakespeare District Police Dept., said that in 2001 he had his very first meal on his beat — a gyro —at George's Hot Dogs.
"He was a nice man and very welcoming. A real staple in the community," Giambrone said.
Andrew Jones, a Bucktown resident, said that while he does not know George personally, he eats at the restaurant often and was heading there for lunch on Thursday when he saw the sign.
Jones described George's as a "Bucktown treasure" and said that when he dined there for the first time, he wasn't aware it was cash only until he had already ordered his food.
"[They] gave me the food and said to repay the next time," Jones said. "Amazing kindness and trust to a first time customer. I went home and looked the place up, and saw they were the real deal."
Services for George Ziamparas, who also leaves behind a daughter and three grandchildren, were held on Thursday, according to a Tribune obituary.
George's Hot Dogs in Bucktown.
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