Trendy and new dishes may take the spotlight, but what about long-time local favorites? Each month, we visit a Richmond-area restaurant that has been in business for 15 years or more.

Josephine Giavos Flemotomos was 9 years old when her parents, Gus and Sophia Giavos, opened Athens Tavern in Fan. “I feel very comfortable in this restaurant, I grew up here,” says Flemotomos.

From 1981 to 2002, the Giavos family served traditional Greek dishes such as dolmades, spanakopita and moussaka, building a loyal customer base. The restaurant operated under various owners from 2002 to 2017, when Flemotomos and her husband Spiros brought Athens Tavern back into family ownership.

The duo also owns and operates Broad Street sports bar Gus’ Bar & Grill, but Flemotomos spends most of her time at Athens Tavern, where she and a dedicated kitchen team prepare all of the menu’s specialties and entrees.

Flemotomos says she rarely sees a face she doesn’t recognize. “I worked as a waitress from 1989 to 2000. I love seeing couples get married and have children – in 1993 I was still serving small children!”

As for new customers who want to enjoy a relaxed dinner with Greek wine and Mama Sophia’s homemade keftedes (meatballs), she’s confident she’ll see them again. “I’d say 85% of our customers are repeat customers,” Flemotomos says. “And the other 15%? Those are people who become repeat customers.”