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Wednesday August 25, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C7 Business To reach this section call 845-3824 Fax:337-5567 YOU WOULDN'T TRUST JUST ANYONE TO DRIVE YOUR CAR, SO WHY TRUST JUST ANY COMPANY TO INSURE IT? John Baumann 627 Lyons Lane #308, Oakville 842-2225 Restaurant offers touch of Greece Mr. G reek now open a t H am p sh ire Gate Mayor Ann Mulvale cut the ribbon at the new Mr. Greek Tuesday night. Photo by Barrie Erskine Company hopes to make Canada a Bell World Oakville is one of the three new sites of a Bell WorldrM store in Ontario. Bell World is a new one-stop-shopping experience com­ bining an array of products and services from the Bell fami­ ly- The facility caters to consumers, home-office workers and business people looking for communications, information, home entertainment, interactive services and home automa­ tion solutions. Bell World also offers customers the opportunity to try out some of the latest products and services before making their purchase. Much of the floor space is devoted to hands-on demonstration areas equipped with computers logged on to the Internet, satellite television systems, videoconferencing screens and mobile phones featuring the latest applications, such as wireless digital data, voice dialing, text messaging and Info Services. "Customers will be impressed not only by the diversity of products and services available under the same roof but also by our experienced staff, who will provide shoppers with the information needed to make the best choices according to their own specific tastes and requirements," said Bill Folland, owner of the Oakville Bell World store at the Winston Power Centre, 2525 Hampshire Gate (855-2220). Folland also owns two other Bell World stores in Ancaster and Hamilton. Bell World stores will replace Bell's Phonecentre™ and Bell Mobility stores by 2001. The new retail distribution net­ work is managed by Bell Distribution Inc., a Bell/Bell Mobility joint venture. Ford honoured by Ontario Cham ber for achievem ents Ford Motor Company o f Canada Limited has been named 1 of 5 winners in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) 1999 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards. Other winners include: Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited; Chalmers Suspensions International Inc.; Crown Charter Phoenix Aviation and Jet Ice Limited. "These companies embody the achievement of excellence for 1999. They are Ontario's best and brightest, and we are pleased to give them the recognition they deserve," said D'Arcy Delamere, OCC chain. Winners will be formally recognized at an Awards Dinner on Sept. 16th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Ford Motor Company of Canada, located in Oakville, was nominated by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. "This manufacturing giant continues to invest aggressively in Canadian facili­ ties, which employs the latest in envi­ ronmental technology," read the special award. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce represents over 55,000 Ontario busi­ nesses through 180 local Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade. The OCC has been the "Voice of Business" in Ontario since 1911. By C a ro l B a ld w in OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF There are only two rules at Mr. Greek - number one: the guest is always right; number two: if you think the guest is wrong, revert to rule to number one. That's what Demetrios Christakos says, and he should know; the Greek-born restaurateur co-owns the new Oakville franchise with fellow countryman Louis Conidis. The two franchisees say they put a little extra money into their new venture to create an ambience that, along with their food, will help their guests relax and fantasize about being in Greece, if only for a few hours. Although the outdoor patio does­ n't overlook the Aegean, it does sport a blue-and-white awning to shade its guests from the sun, and glass half-walls to distance them from the traffic along Hampshire Gate. This newly decorated restaurant with its flagstone floors and large "ceiling circles" that depict charac­ ters from Greek mythology boasts a comprehensive Mediterranean menu of souvlaki, moussaka and myriad other wonderful dishes that make Greek cuisine so popular. And, says Christakos, each entree is accompa­ nied by those famous, flavourful Greek potatoes, a Greek salad and a fresh, baked tomato stuffed with rice and feta cheese. Christakos, who immigrated to Canada in 1960, worked in the insur­ ance business for 25 years before deciding to get a taste of the restau­ rant business, which he began on the side. However, he soon found him­ self giving up his first occupation to indulge more in his new-found career. "Seven years ago I decided to move to Florida, and I bought two places - Miami Subs and a family restaurant," he says, adding that he ultimately returned to Canada a few months ago because his family missed it so much. And it wasn't long before Christakos was ready to embark on a new restaurant venture. His current partner, one of the original owners of Toronto's well- known Acropolis restaurant, has been in the restaurant business for years, including other Mr. Greek franchises. So, the two Greek chefs got together to open Oakville's Mr. Greek. Its location in Oakville's "big- box shopping district" in the Dundas Street/Winston Churchill Boulevard area, is shared by many eating estab­ lishments, including at least one other Greek eatery. But the differ­ ence between those restaurants and Mr. Greek, says Christakos, will be his "hospitality, good food and wine, good service and beautiful atmos­ phere. All the food here is fresh. I don't believe in frozen. And once we get going, we will have nice lamb daily and specials every week." Just past The Spartan Bar in the middle of the restaurant is a room that can be reserved for private par­ ties of up to 40 guests. However, when it isn't booked for a special function, The Acropolis Room will accommodate regular customers. A painting of the Acropolis, painted sometime in the 1950s for Toronto's Acropolis restaurant, graces the back wall of the room. "It had to be cut to fit," explains Christakos, adding that he and Conidis will work out a menu to suit any guests who choose to reserve The Acrop&lis Room. "We will do a spe­ cial menu, as long as we're given enough notice." Mr. Greek, at 2501 Hampshire Gate, is set to open today (Wed. Augus^ 25th) and will stay open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with later closings on Fridays and Saturdays and probably earlier ones on Sundays, depending on demand. "We'll play it by ear for the first while," says Christakos. For information or reservations call 855-2535. i Business YOU WOULDN'T TRUST JUST ANYONE TO DRIVE YOUR CAR, Restaurant offers touch of Greece By Carol Baldwin