Yiorgos Hatzakis, affable proprietor of historic Hatzis Taverna in Kokkini Hani for the past 25 years, greeted customers as the taverna’s host for the last time in May. Beginning this month, the taverna will be run by Yianni Fragiathaki, of neighbouring Hatzis supermarket.

“I know Yianni will maintain the Hatzis name in the area and keep up the fine reputation and quality that the name has come to represent,” said Yiorgos, the third generation of the Hatzakis family to run the taverna.

It was originally built in 1937 by Yiorgos’ grandfather, but was bombed during the war, and rebuilt in 1961 and run by Yiorgos’ father.

While Yiorgos maintains he’s not quite ready for retirement, he plans to spend more time with his family, and continue to run the Hatzis Apartment Complex, adjacent to the taverna.