Owner Shawn Shakhmalian (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
Nancy’s Greek Restaurant has been open for over a week after being closed two months since the ruinous Eaton Fire. It is one of the few lucky survivors.
By Melissa Michelson
Owner Shawn Shakhmalian has been serving up homemade and authentic Greek food to the Altadena community for 32 years, in the same location tucked in next to the Rite Aid, toward the back of the parking lot. As the fire went barreling down Lake Ave. on January 7, he believes his restaurant survived because an adjacent wall at the Bunny Museum, which was completely destroyed, fell and smothered the flames.
Had the fire affected Nancy’s Greek Cafe, the loss would have been ever more tragic. Shakmalian is one of many Angelenos who’d been dropped by his insurance company several months before the LA fires.
“As far as [sit-down] restaurants like this, we’re one of the very few left in Altadena,” says Shakhmalian. “Our customers were all living within a mile or two of the restaurant, and most have lost their homes. We need our customer base back.”
Nancy’s Greek Cafe (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
A small business owner that cares
The evening of the Eaton Fire, he evacuated himself and his staff at 7:30 pm. His staff wanted to continue cleaning up, but he told them to leave everything. Later that night, he went to help two of his employees and their families whose homes were in flames and who needed to find temporary accommodations. They have since moved out of Altadena.
Shakhmalian continued to pay his remaining four employees while the restaurant was closed, as they have been preparing for re-opening, deep-cleaning everything from the floors to utensils.
He has been calling his former customers to check in on them. One regular customer who ordered cakes for her church told him 70 members of her church have lost their homes and that it would be a while before she puts in another order.
Homemade comfort food
Regulars who are still in Altadena are coming in, though not as many as before.
Today was one of our best days this week.” Shakhmalian attributes that to word-of-mouth referrals from customers who don’t live in Altadena, and who are making up the bulk of his patrons. They are coming from afar to not only support the Altadena community but also to try one of the best Greek restaurants around.
Customers can expect the same menu, prices and flavors as before the fire, including the delectably popular Moussaka dish. The restaurant may be unassuming, but the flavorful dishes are not. They are consistently prepared with fresh ingredients and with pride. Shakhmalian stands by his restaurant that has survived all these years, and he isn’t going anywhere.
The Moussaka takes 25 minutes to make. Get there early and be ready to enjoy a glass of wine or a plate of hummus, because good things come to those who wait! (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
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