While restaurants are closing, shrinking, offering take-out and delivery, and trying to find schemes to stay alive during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ithaka in Victoria, British Columbia is going big. 

Owner Dimitri Adamopolous moved to another spot downtown that had been empty for a year, expecting development there, the end of the health crisis, getting a bigger kitchen, more seats, and a different look he hopes will pay off. 

He wants to be able to handle sit-down diners as well as take-out and told The Times-Colonist newspaper that the math worked out for the gamble. 

“We had the option to throw in the towel and end three generations of Greek restaurants in my family … or take the chance,” said Adamopolous. “It was a tough decision to make, but we are happy to continue.” 

The new location had been home to Greek restaurants for decades and he said he worked out a lease with owner George Mavrikos who wanted to keep it that way. 

“We decided to bring it back with a new vision, and it felt right for all of us,” Adamopolous said. Life is a journey.