After more than 40 years, Minneapolis restaurant It’s Greek to Me is closing again

That’s Greek to me Taverna E Parea in Minneapolis permanently closed on weekends.

A post on the restaurant’s website from co-owners Alkis Arambadjis and Erik Johnson said that, in part, “due to numerous impediments, large and small, the restaurant is officially closed.” Johnson and Arambadjis had reopened the restaurant in 2020 with the name slightly changed.

Arambadjis was one of the original owners of It’s Greek to Me, along with his brother, Argyrios Arambadjis. Both are from Salonika, Greece. They opened the restaurant in 1982, along with their wives. Over the years they have expanded its original footprint, eventually adding one of the Twin Cities’ most attractive outdoor dining spaces.

In 2016, the Arambadjis family sold the business to spouses Nick and Athena Karos, who ran the business until September 2019. When the Karoses decided to quit, AIkis and longtime employee Johnson stepped in .

The Greek corner restaurant has remained unwavering in its service of Mediterranean cuisine. As Taverna E Parea is Greek to me, the restaurant first opened for takeout, then limited seating, before having to take a break during the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Despite the challenges, “parea” meant companionship, and the soul of the restaurant was a gathering place for friends and family to toast over generous helpings of fresh Greek dishes.

With this final chapter, Arambadjis and Johnson wrote, “We humbly thank you for the support over the past few years and all the years this wonderful place has been open.”