Our Story
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Spiros (Steve) Nixon immigrated from Greece to the United States of America at the age of 13 to escape a brutal civil war and to seek opportunities for a better life. He proudly served in the Korean War with the United States Army. Prior to serving in the Army, he worked for his grandfather at his restaurant in Greenville, NC. He later moved to New York where he worked in several restaurants including the famous Italian Restaurant, Mamma Leone's where he acquired his cooking skills bringing them to North Carolina to open up his own restaurant. He opened the Flamenco Restaurant in Greensboro in 1969. In 1984, he opened the Pavilion Restaurant in Greensboro which continues to serve its patrons to this day!
LIFE IN GREECE
In 1953, the owner and founder of Pavilion Restaurant, Spiro (Steve) Nixon lived in the mountains of Greece with his family. A Civil War broke out in the country and with the chance to move to America presenting itself to him, he jumped at the chance to make his dreams come true. With the determination and skills he brought with him as a butcher's son, he knew he had what it took to succeed. At the age of 13, he traveled to the United States and started his new life as a United States Citizen.
IN THE US
Landing in Kingston, NC, at his cousin's house, he saw an opportunity to move to New York City and took on a job working at a restaurant called Mama Leone's. While working and attending school part-time, the Korean War broke out in the early 1950's, and he was drafted for 2 years. At the end of his service, he moved back to Greensboro, NC, for a short while to collect his things and ended up falling in love with a beautiful young Greek girl named Katina from Samos, Greece. They decided to marry and moved to New York City to begin their new life as Husband and Wife.
BRINGING HIS VISION TO LIFE
When they lived in New York City, his wife didn't enjoy the city's fast-paced lifestyle and moved back to Greensboro, NC to start their family. Going back to working in restaurant kitchens in High Point, NC, he decided it was time to make his mark on the culinary world. Partnering with a friend to help bring his vision to life, he soon realized that the restaurant he wanted to create couldn't be done with a partner. After going their separate ways, in 1968, he opened one of Greensboro's best-known establishments called The Flamenco Restaurant. While The Flamenco Restaurant holds a beautiful spot in our hearts as it was the restaurant he always wanted to create, his vision lives on at The Pavilion Restaurant for our families to enjoy together.
