In 1968, Leo Stassinopoulos came to America at the young age of 17. He arrived from a little known village in Greece and did not speak any English. However, Leo did have a strong will and determination to achieve a better life for himself in America just as many Greeks had before him. He hoped to obtain a piece of the American Dream he had heard so much about. At first, Leo took up a job in a meat factory and began to save up money to pursue his own goals and ambitions. Later, he began to work in a local Coney Island establishment where he was able to learn the restaurant industry from the ground up. The next logical step was to team up with his older brother Peter and open a restaurant of his own.
Peter Stassinopoulos arrived in America early in the 1960s. Peter followed a similar path as his brother Leo, taking on several jobs and working in the restaurant business where he learned the trade from the ground up. In 1972, the two brothers teamed up to open their first restaurant. The restaurant was called Southfield Souvlaki Coney Island and was located in Southfield, MI. The brothers’ initial success was due in no small part to their hard work attitude and personal touch to the Coney Island business. The family recipe for their famous Leo’s Greek Salad dressing, along with the Chili and other great homemade items, has been the backbone of success for the company. The brothers were able to build up a reputation for quality food and service and followed up by opening their second location in 1979. By 1982, the Farmington Souvlaki Coney Island was opened and the brothers continued to build their strong reputation within the community. Soon thereafter, the decision was made that these restaurants were unique and needed to be identified by a common banner. Thus, Leo’s Coney Island was born.
Leo’s has evolved from a limited menu, originally offering the basics of Coney Island restaurants including Coney Hot Dogs, Fries, Burgers, Chili, and Greek Salads. Now its menu offers a full line of items for the whole family including Greek specialties, breakfast, and a kids’ menu. However, throughout the years Leo’s has not strayed from the formula of serving the highest quality products and giving great service to customers. Leo has made it his mission to provide the experience of a Coney Island, while also offering great homemade specialties and family favorites.
Leo’s throughout the years has been dedicated in being active with the local communities and provides support to local events and charities. Its mission to participate in these worthwhile causes continues as Leo’s expands into new communities. Leo’s Coney Island will always be dedicated to bringing great food and service to its customers and providing the best experience possible.
The Leo’s Coney Island of Chicago Story
The Leo’s Coney Island of Chicago story started in 2005 with the constant frustration of one Chicago man, Jeremy Stolberg. His wife Alissa, born and raised in West Bloomfield, MI, and a Leo’s fan since childhood, was pregnant with their first child Ava. Upon one of his many solo business trips to MI on his wife’s behalf, he received a very familiar phone call and request. “Honey, can you please bring back some Leo’s chili and dressing to Chicago?” Once he reached the local Leo’s on Maple and Telegraph and picked up the items for his wife back in Chicago, he felt the need to share his frustration with the man at the counter. “How can you not have one of these in Chicago? You would certainly save me and many other homesick Detroiters some trips back and forth.” Little did Jeremy know he was talking to the founder, Leo Stassinopoulos. Leo shared Jeremy’s enthusiasm and desire to open the first Leo’s Coney Island out of the state of Michigan. Thus, the Leo’s Coney Island of Chicago dream was born.
Having a background in business development and real estate, Jeremy embarked on this passion project. After a year of getting this major undertaking off the ground, a familiar face offered Jeremy some help in order to make this dream a reality. Enter Lou Goldhaber, a friend of Jeremy’s and a marketing executive from Relay Worldwide; a Chicago based experiential marketing and sponsorship consulting firm. Jeremy realized after many meetings with Lou, that his passion, enthusiasm, and background would be invaluable to the Leo’s Team.
Despite originally being from Pittsburgh, Lou was no stranger to the Leo’s concept. His wife, Amye, also was born in West Bloomfield, MI, grew up going to Leo’s Coney Island as a child. In addition, Jeremy’s wife Alissa was Amye’s camp counselor some 15 years earlier at Camp Tamakwa. And to top it off, Lou’s wife Amye, an interior designer by trade with her own design firm, was the perfect person to create the Leo’s Coney Island vision in Chicago. The bond between the two families was undeniable, and the concept of continuing the “family business” atmosphere was truly felt. The two of them would be the perfect mix to bring this Detroit concept to life in the Windy City.
But the last piece of the pie was still missing. Jeremy and Lou were still searching for that last member of the Leo’s team that had that perfect blend of restaurant experience and personality to pull it all together. They found that someone in Jordan Sumers, a restaurant expert whom Jeremy found through a mutual friend.
Jordan grew up in the restaurant business. His father, a successful restaurateur in Cleveland, educated Jordan on the art of professionalism and the key ingredients to running a thriving restaurant. He learned from a young age that a restaurant must make their patrons feel like part of the family. And in the end, that is what Coney Island’s are all about, one big family. Since moving to Chicago in 2004, Jordan has gained extensive knowledge and experience by operating and managing restaurants for Chicago-based restaurant companies Lettuce Entertain You, Levy Restaurants, and Spring Restaurant Group.
With the addition of Jordan, the dream team was set. Jeremy, Lou and Jordan are excited to bring the Coney Island concept to life in Chicago. With the perfect team in place, the possibilities are endless for Leo’s Coney Island concept. The team has secured the development rights to Leo’s Coney Island throughout the broader Chicagoland area and plans to open many stores in the years to come.
