About us

Thank you for joining us as we celebrate 25 incredible years of the Parkside Cafe. 

Whether you've been with us since the very beginning or you're visiting for the very first time, we're so grateful to have you here celebrating this milestone with us. 

For those who may not know our story, the Parkside Cafe was founded in 2001 by my (Anthi) parents, along with another family. At the inception of the business, my mother (Georgia) was working as a teacher and my father (Jimmy) was working as a general contractor building houses. My mother had grown up in a restaurant family (her parents owned restaurants and 24/7 diners), while my father's humble origin story began in Greece with very little restaurant exposure, but a whole lot of work ethic. When the opportunity arose, they took a chance on opening a restaurant, and laid the foundation for what would become the community gathering place + landmark that Parkside Cafe is today. 

The journey wasn't always easy. When the housing market collapsed in 2008, my dad's construction business came to a standstill, leading my parents to purchase the shares of the other founding family and become the sole owners of the Parkside Cafe. 

Since then, they've weathered economic hardships, hurricanes, and the many challenges of owning a small business. Yet through it all, their commitment to serving this community and creating a place where generations of families could gather never wavered. As for me, I never expected to become a second-generation restaurant owner. After earning my degree in Biology from the University of Florida in 2017, I returned home expecting to stay for just a few months. Instead, I rediscovered my passion for the family business and realized that carrying on what my parents had built was exactly where I was meant to be. When I met my husband, Sarando (to many also known as Niko), the story came full circle. After Niko proposed to me, my father jokingly but sincerely - proposed to him as well: my father asked Niko to join me in carrying the family business into its next chapter. While Niko was working as a construction superintendent when we met, he actually had a period of time as a child where he envisioned becoming a chef. Inspired by the flavors of his grandmother's cooking and the fact that his grandfather had owned a restaurant in New York, hospitality and food have always been part of his family's story, too. Among the many fresh, new ideas Niko brings to the table, I get most excited about his creation of our seasonal specials and the creativity he brings to the kitchen. 

Today, the Parkside Cafe is proud to be in its second generation of family ownership, with our eyes set on preserving its legacy for generations to come. More than anything, I do want to express how grateful we are for the community that has supported us since 2001, as well as our staff that makes every day possible. Many of our guests have become friends, and some families have been dining with us for multiple generations. Likewise, many members of our staff have been part of the Parkside Cafe family for years, helping us create the welcoming atmosphere that keeps guests coming back and forming relationships that extend far beyond the workplace. Reaching this 25-year milestone would not have been possible without you all. We are honored to remain a locally owned, family-operated business serving Pinellas Park and the surrounding community, and we are looking forward to the next 25 years. 

With love and eternal gratitude, Anthi and Niko :)