New restaurant owner gives established location a chance

Date: 1/19/2010

Jan. 20, 2010.

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE -- Mayor Michael Bissonnette officially welcomed restaurant owner Kevin Tos to the city at the grand opening of Tos' Olympia Restaurant, 582 Chicopee St. on Jan. 13, at the location of the former Lacroix's Market,

Tos noted there has been a restaurant at the site for the past 50 years and he hopes to see former customers come back to his establishment.

His menu includes Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Irish specialties, he said.

"It has a little bit of everything," he added.

The new restaurant will be open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week and Tos expects to expand those hours during the summer for his ice cream trade.

Although Tos has added his own touch to the look of the restaurant, he kept its distinctive long counter.

Originally from Philadelphia, Penn., Tos has lived in the area two years and has worked in restaurants, but this is the first business he has owned. He is employing eight people.

City Councilor George Moreau attend the grand opening and said, "I'm very happy to see this open."

Bissonnette said the restaurant has "had a long history as a neighborhood meeting place so it's good to have it open again."

He said Tos had "courage to open a restaurant in these challenging times."