An Immigration Story A Century Old, the Red Hot Inn and Gus's Original Close This is a family photo story nearly a century old as Jim Koukios was the first of his Greek family to come to the United States in 1920. After settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he then brought over his nephews Sam, Thales, and Gus Koukios to sell “Red Hots” in his chili hot dog style restaurant at 131 Michigan Ave NW. It has been a three generation livelihood with the secret chili recipe at the core of its lore.
Today’s happening was the family getting together in a nostalgic celebration of the successful retirement of a branch of this story, as the Red Hot Inn at the corner of the Belt Line and Leonard St. closed after 35 years in business at that location. Gus’ Original pizza restaurant closed as well after 7 years, as both brothers, Jim and Matt, felt it was time to move on. All this, however, happened while stories of the home land, the mountain village of Dikastro in Greece, were still being told. Thanks Uncle Jim for the century of stories.
Evans Koukios, Ann Arbor Photographic Arts, June 22, 2019
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