Athanasios (Tom) Hasiotis and his sister Ana Papanikolaou work as a team managing Nikki’s Luncheonette, serving food and smiles to the surrounding community.
Nikki’s, at 95 Wakelee Ave., is across from the Cancer Center at Griffin Hospital.
Hasiotis was born in Greece and came to the U.S. at age seven. Papanikolaou, who is ten years younger than her brother, was born in the U.S.
Tommy and Ana had to tag team the interview while serving the lunchtime crowd. They sporadically answered questions, took orders and answered the telephone.
Valley Independent Sentinel: So Tommy, you’ve done a lot of work with the place. What have you done?
Tom Hasiotis: I put in the tiles, the tables, the counters, painted and put in a flat screen TV. I even built those tables with the booth and that breezeway at the door. I’m like they say, Jack of all trades — master of none.
VIS: What’s your best selling item?
TH: The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. I sell about 100 day.
VIS: What did you do before this, Tommy?
TH: I worked at another diner for six years.
VIS: How about you, Ana?
AP: I managed a catering service for 10 years.
VIS: Ana, what’s your day like?
AP Well, I start at 5:30 in the morning getting myself ready, kids lunch packed and laundry. I leave the house and have to be here by 8:30 a.m.
VIS: Do you co-own it the luncheonette with Tommy or co-manage it?
AP: Yes, I manage. I don’t own this place. I have enough on my plate. I don’t need the headaches.
(A surge of customers enters for lunch. Anna gets up to pack an order for a nearby school)
TH: You see Tina, it’s feast or famine.
VIS: What’s it like working together as brother and sister?
AP: Surprisingly, we work fine together. Our whole family was convinced we wouldn’t last a month. I have been here for two and a half years. I guess we proved them wrong, huh?
VIS: So, Tommy where’d you go to high school?
AP: Bassick High in Bridgeport.
VIS: Really, so did I. What year did you graduate?
AP: 1983.
VIS: Your kidding, so did I! Wow, we were in the same high school graduating class.
TH: You sure? Did I date you, Tina? I dated a lot of girls back then, you know!
VIS: Uh, no, I don’t think so. You’d remember me.
VIS: Are you married?
TH: Yes, I been married to my wife 15 years, together 17 years.
VIS: Is she Greek too?
TH: Yes, she is.
VIS: How did you meet?
TH: She was my sister’s best friend.
VIS: What’s your daily special?
TH: Daily is usually hot food. Turkey, sausage and peppers, meatloaf, chicken Parmesan.
VIS: You guys are open six days a week?
TH: Yup, eight hours a day, six days. Monday thru Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
VIS: But Ana you’re here only five days. Right?
AP: Yes, five days. Monday through Friday and every other Saturday.
TH: She’s a mother. I have to give her some time off.
Call Nikki’s at (203) 732‑5797.
