Running a family business often means the “family” includes your customers, especially when you’re the oldest continuously-run restaurant in Kirkland.
So when George Mangouras, the original owner of George’s Place, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, a number of patrons were upset by the news, including former Mayor Bill Woods. He and several friends often drop in for roundtable breakfasts and business lunches.
“I jokingly say, ‘that’s my office, now that I’m retired,’” Woods said. “Is he seeing visitors?”
Still weak from chemotherapy treatments for Lymphoma, Mangouras isn’t seeing any visitors yet. But daughter Athina Athan said her dad still asks about all of his regulars from his hospital bed, even if he doesn’t remember them all by name.
“Literally, I leave work and go to see him at the hospital and I tell him all of the people that say hello and send him get-well wishes,” she said. “I say, ‘The guy who always sits at seat number two and orders bacon and eggs, with blonde hair?’ and he says, ‘Oh yeah, that guy, yes, I know him!’”
Trying to keep up with her father’s well-wishers while serving diners at the restaurant, Athan hit upon an idea that took advantage of a medium her father was familiar with: The family’s old Polaroid camera. Instead of passing along messages second-hand, she said taking photos of his friends or anyone else who wanted to say hello was the best way to reach him while he recovers.
The photo can be placed inside a photo album that Athan will bring to the hospital at least once every couple of days.
After 32 years, the Mangouras family has developed deep ties to their community of regulars, visiting from near and far. They hope their long-time customers and friends like Woods can pass along a message that George would recognize and enjoy.
Originally owned by George, he recently sold his stake to his son, Pete Mangouras and businessman Derek MacKenzie.
Longtime customer Woods reminisced on the occasion in his pharmacy when he first met Mangouras, who sought help for a badly burned hand. Woods obliged him by applying a salve and bandage to the wound.
“He never forgot that I took care of him,” he said.
Kendall Watson can be reached at kwatson@kirklandreporter.com or 425-822-9166, ext. 5052.
