Olympia Restaurant celebrates 120 years of family and community in Lindsay

BRANDON CLARK The Standard

LINDSAY: For 120 years, Olympia Restaurant has been more than a place to eat in Lindsay. It has been a gathering place where families celebrate milestones, friendships flourish and generations of customers return to enjoy good food and warm hospitality.

Established in 1906 as The Olympia Candy Works, the historic business has passed through generations of family ownership, preserving its name and traditions while adapting to the changing tastes of the community.

The story began with Tony Bakogeorge, who arrived in Canada from Greece and opened the Lindsay candy shop. His cousin, Panagiotis (Peter) Karkabasis, also made the journey to North America, establishing a family connection which would eventually bring the restaurant back into the Karkabasis family.

Bakogeorge's business offered handmade chocolates, candies, ice cream and soda fountain treats. The shop quickly became a popular destination, drawing customers from Lindsay and beyond. Its success expanded into wholesale distribution, while ice cream trucks became a familiar sight on local streets.

A family tradition takes shape

Around 1930, the business entered a new chapter when Chris and Eudoxia “Ma” Tozios transformed it into the Olympia Tea Room. A kitchen was added, shifting the focus toward hearty meals as well as refreshments.

Chicken, potatoes and soup became staples during difficult economic times, helping sustain the business and its role as a community meeting place.

The restaurant also became part of customers' personal histories. Former waitress Edith Collins recalled beginning work there in 1924, remembering the Christmas season's candy canes, hard candies and toffees. She also met her future husband while working at the restaurant.

The Tozios family operated the business for decades before Chris and Cathe Karkabasis took ownership in 1980. Chris, whose family was connected to Bakogeorge through their earlier journey from Greece, was determined to preserve the Olympia name.

Reopening as the Olympia Restaurant Cafe and Bar in 1981, the family introduced traditional Greek cuisine, establishing a menu which continues to define the restaurant today.

The next generation carries on

Nicki Karkabasis-Dedes grew up around the restaurant, helping with serving and cleaning before eventually taking on a larger role. She and her husband, Costas Dedes, continued the family tradition, renovating the dining room in 1993 with an atmosphere inspired by ancient Greece.

Further renovations in 2003 created a banquet hall for weddings, business meetings, conferences and family celebrations, expanding the restaurant's role as a gathering place.

Today, Nicki and Costas operate Olympia alongside their children, Christina and Nikos, carrying the business into another generation. Its menu features Greek favourites, including souvlaki, saganaki and dolmades, alongside familiar dinner classics.

For the Dedes family, the restaurant's longevity reflects the connection between family, food and community. Photographs and memorabilia displayed on its walls tell the story of the people who built the business, while longtime customers bring their own memories through the doors.

As Olympia marks its 120th anniversary, its enduring appeal rests on a simple tradition: welcoming people to gather around the table.

For generations of Lindsay residents, the invitation remains familiar: “Meet you at the Olympia!”