Business & Tech
Big Tommy's Parthenon Introduces Comedy Club in Novi
The Novi restaurant, open less than a year, now showcases comedians every week.
It's been less than a month since Big Tommy's Comedy Club's opening weekend and it's already a hit.Â
"We have shows booked all the way to June," said Elena Stylianou, co-owner of Big Tommy's Parthenon in Novi — Greek restaurant and home of the comedy club.
Billy Stoyanovich, who worked for Joey's Comedy Club in Livonia, approached her about staring a comedy club in the restaurant, she said. Now, as the club's manager, he brings comedians like Basile, who has appeared on Comedy Central and the Jay Leno Show, and upcoming performer Billy Ray Bauer. The club features new professional comedians each week in the lower level of the restaurant.Â
"With his knowledge plus our knowledge of everything, we put it together," she said.Â
Show-goers are greeted at the main entrance of the restaurant and taken through a black velvet-curtained entrance to the comedy club below. Stylianou and her husband, Andy, have been using the space as a banquet hall since they opened in Novi at 40380 Grand River Ave., the former location of Leo's Sports Bar, less than a year ago.
Big Tommy's Parthenon represents the next generation
They are no strangers to the restaurant business. Stylianou is the daughter of Tommy Peristeris, a well-known — now retired — restauranteur who was in the business since 1971 and owned the original Parthenon in Greektown. She said she grew up in the restaurant business and wanted her own. That led to the opening of Big Tommy's Parthenon, named after her father.Â"We've kept his legacy alive," she said.Â
Although not an owner, patrons of Peristeris' restaurants — like Big Daddy's Parthenon in West Bloomfield — can expect to find his original recipes at the Novi restaurant. One such item is Big T's Original Parthenon Salad, known as Tommy's Salad in his previous venues.Â
"Nobody else has my dad's recipes,"Â Stylianou said.Â
Her father still visits the establishment as do the area's celebrities and big names like Mayor Bob Gatt, Novi's city council, former WXYZ Channel 7 sports director Don Shane and Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.Â
The restaurant is also a big supporter of the community. Non-profits like school sports groups can sell tickets to the comedy club's shows and receive half of the night's earnings, Stylianou said.Â
Comedy club tickets are $8 for Thursday shows and $13 Friday to Saturday. Dinner and show packages are also available for $20 on Thursday and $25 Friday to Saturday.Â
Find out more about Big Tommy's Comedy Club at its blog on Novi Patch.
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