Rebuild of Kelowna's popular Olympia Greek Taverna underway
Work is finally underway to rebuild a popular Greek restaurant in Kelowna, gutted by fire, and return it to its former glory.
The fire at Olympia Greek Taverna on Oct. 6, 2020, started in the back of the building and since then, owner Mike Koutsantonis said the permitting took a longer to get approved since plans for the rebuild include three residential suites.
Koutsantonis called the first day of equipment being onsite at the Highway 33 location “exciting.” Plans are to reopen with its new design in late November, early December 2022.
READ MORE: Popular Kelowna Greek restaurant destroyed by fire planning a comeback
The outward design of the restaurant will feature a terracotta roof, beige stucco and concrete block masonry.
The Olympia Greek Taverna, which has made its home on Highway 33 in Rutland for nearly 50 years, originally opened in 1968 and with only a few items including pizza and pasta. The new restaurant will still be located at its former site.
Koutsantonis has already heard reactions from the community regarding the equipment on site, as they’re looking forward to eating pizza and Greek food in Rutland once again.
The menu is still in the works at this time, he said.
Some of the most popular menu items were the chicken souvlaki, calamari, as well as their pizzas and pastas.
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