WE'RE BAAACK:
TONY & CHRIS BOWES RETURN
FROM AN EARLY 'RETIREMENT'

       
  Did you ever hear the story about the guy who had his funeral before he died? He wanted to judge how popular he was by the number of people that showed up for his wake. Using a variation of that formula as a yardstick, Tony and Chris Bowes, the affable chef/hosts of the Neraida Restaurant in Kokkini Hani, are very popular, indeed.

More than 60 people showed up for their recent farewell/retirement party, many bearing gifts as a token of appreciation for the couple's 14 years in providing great meals in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, in what is one of the area's oldest foreign-owned restaurants. The only problem was – they didn't retire! Well, actually, they did – but it was the shortest retirement in history.

"We were overwhelmed by so many people offering best wishes, the couple said. "We never expected it. Even our family and friends from England flew in for the celebration. Of course, we feel terrible about what happened."

What happened? Here's the story in a nutshell. Tony, 59, and Chris, 57, are about ready to start collecting their pensions from England, so they put the Neraida on the market several months ago through a couple of the new breed of foreign estate agents in the area. Immediately, there were several inquiries, the most promising of which came from a woman named Sandra Clarke from England.

"As soon as I saw the place, situated by the sea, I fell in love with it," the Boweses quoted her as saying. Negotiations began, all going through the local English real estate agent, and an agreement on the selling price, a reasonable five-figure number, was reached in a few days. Contracts were drawn up, the Greek landlord gave his approval for the sale, and everything went along smoothly.

"When it came to a deposit, I told them 'don't bother, I trust you and take your word'," Tony said. "Foolish me, but they seemed so sincere and they said positively they were buying the Neraida, and that we shouldn't offer it to anyone else. They said the money was being transferred from England to Crete and should be here in a few days."

Then came the big farewell party. The prospective buyer, Sandra Clarke, and her family of five were there for the festivities. A wonderful free buffet was offered, and, after some spirited partying, the speechmaking began. When Tony took the "microphone," he introduced Mrs. Clarke as the new "owner" of the Neraida, and wished them "as much success as we had" and urging everyone to "give them your support."

In the next few days Tony and Chris transferred all of their personal items out of the Neraida, gave it a final spruce-up and were ready to turn over the keys. Then the bomb hit.

"We heard from our agent that they changed their minds," Tony said, when the initial shock finally wore off. "They told him they didn't think the business could support five people! We just couldn't believe it. We were numb."

"What world are these people living in," one observer said, as word of the cancellation of the sale came out. "Show me a business in this area that can support five adults, other than the Arina Sand hotel – and that would sell for a bit more than five figures."

A professional estate agent in Iraklion, when asked for a reading of the situation, shook his head and said "that's what happens when you deal with amateurs." He spoke under the condition that his name would not be printed. "The agent representing the seller should never have let the sale progress that far without some sort of deposit or escrow money – for his own benefit as well as his client's. He's bound by his professionalism to protect his client as much as possible."

Tony and Chris have contacted an attorney to discuss what can be done to recoup lost revenues and expenses. Meanwhile, they have come "out of retirement" and have re-opened the Neraida. While their customers and friends feel bad for their ordeal, they can't help being happy that the old Neraida is back. But there's no truth to the rumour that a group of friends got together and paid Sandra Clarke to "get out of town" so they could continue to get great food in Kokkini.