The Greek Taverna To Close After 28 Years In McLean

MCLEAN, VA — The Greek Taverna, a restaurant started by Greek immigrants, will close in McLean after 28 years. The last day of business will be Valentine's Day, Sunday, Feb. 14.

Christos and Popi Karamanos have run their restaurant at 6828 Dominion Drive since 1994. But amid business struggles with the pandemic, they were unsuccessfully able to negotiate with the landlord on rent.

"It was a hard time with the pandemic and things. Business was not very good. The rent is high," Popi Karamanos told Patch.

The couple immigrated to the U.S. from Greece in the 1970s, bringing their knowledge of Greek cuisine straight from the source. After operating another Greek restaurant in Northern Virginia, they turned to McLean as a location for The Greek Taverna. The couple built the restaurant from scratch, from the building and grapevines over the outdoor patio to the menu.

"They really built it from the ground up, which is really amazing because they barely spoke English," said their daughter Demetra Karamanos.

The business was truly a family operation. From the start, Christos and Popi Karamanos have been working there every day and put their kids through college. Their children Demetra and George grew up waiting tables, and Demetra still often comes home from New York to wait tables on weekends when they're short-staffed. The Greek Taverna also has employees that have been there for 17 to 20 years.

"It was always a family," said Popi Karamanos. "We always try to support the community too."

When The Greek Taverna was faced with pandemic-related restrictions, the restaurant tried to adapt with measures like face masks, sanitizing tables and training servers to practice social distancing, according to Demetra Karamanos. The restaurant could get busy with takeout during the peak dinner hours, and business had been successful in the summer when the outdoor patio was open.

Nevertheless, business just wasn't the same as it was before the pandemic. They got assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program, but they had to choose between paying staff and paying the landlord. According to Demetra Karamanos, her parents tried to get breaks from the landlord or pay a portion of the monthly rent, but they could not get answers on those requests.

Then one day, The Greek Taverna and some other tenants at the shopping center began receiving eviction notices on their doors. After unsuccessful negotiations with the landlord, they decided they would have to close as the weather got cold. They tentatively planned to close at the end of January but ultimately decided on a final closing date of Feb. 14.

"It's been very emotional," said Demetra Karamanos. "It's the longest they've done anything. It's like moving out of your childhood home."

Popi Karamanos thanked customers for their "kindness generosity and friendship" over the years. Since news of the closing spread, she noted that customers have been sending flowers, bringing cards, and bringing their children who they've seen grow up throughout the years. Some customers have even come in daily for two weeks.

"We had good customers, and we were happy to have them," she said.

Once the restaurant closes, Popi Karamanos doesn't have any immediate plans. She intends to spend some time to relax. Customers are encouraged to leave their contact information at the restaurant to stay in touch.

"That was a good 28 years, and we don't regret a minute that we've been here in McLean," said Popi Karamanos.

The Greek Taverna is open from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. through Sunday, Feb. 14. To see the menu, visit www.thegreektaverna.com, and place orders at 703-556-0788.