About Us
The Lighthouse Grill was established in 1954 by George Pappas and Alex Fragakis. In 1961 Nick Doumas joined the restaurant as a partner and in 1966 Louis Doumas came to America to join his brother in the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse has been more than just a business to these brothers. But to really understand what the Lighthouse means to them, you must go back to their beginnings in Greece. More specifically to a little village 5 hours north of Athens in the mountains of Greece to a region known as Karpanisi. The village name is Megalohorio or "the big village" not to be confused with Microhorio, the little village, just over the hill.
Nick was born in 1938 and Louis in 1939. The exact dates are not known but sometime after the harvest of the grapes which is in October. And birthdays aren't celebrated in Greece just Name Days. Their parents were Haralambos and Politimi Doumas. The boys did not have much time with their dad as he died unexpectedly in 1941 and the next 6 years would be hard ones. Politimi was left to care for two young boys at a time when Europe was in the beginnings of World War II. Their village was uprooted and destroyed by the various entering and exiting armies but it was not until Greece entered its own civil war of communist versus loyalist that the young boys became exposed to the horrors of neighbor against neighbor. When Nick was nine, it fell to him to bury his neighbor who had been killed. At a moment's notice, their mother would have to pack up all of their important items (including the chicken and the cat) and grabbing the boys by the hand, would head up into the hills to hide, returning to their home only when it was safe.
During the day, the boys were left in the home while their mother walked the 2 miles down the mountain to a little plot of ground that she farmed. At night all of the windows and curtains had to remain closed as snipers would fire into the homes that the light shone from. Food was scarce and they ate dandelions for greens. She would feed them the cornmeal she made into bread but for herself, she ate acorn bread which was very bitter and caused her to swell. When the opportunity came for Nick to come to America, his maternal uncle offered to sponsor him, Politimi jumped at the offer.
At 12 1/2, Nick was ready to leave - with 2 wooden suitcases in his hand - he said goodbye to his mother and brother. His mother kissed him, handed him half a baked chicken, and told him never to come back - there was nothing there for him. Nick arrived in New York in January of 1952. It would be 14 years before he would see his brother again and 16 years before he would see his mother. Their reunion was bitter sweet. He had lived up to his promise and succeeded as his mother had hoped but the little boy no longer stood before her. He was 28 with a wife and 4 children. Both brothers have a bond to each other that is unbreakable and it was the early years of protecting each other in order to survive that built the bond they have today.
Politimi lived with Louis and his wife and 2 children until her death in 1997. Her great love was to garden and she was able to spend every day planting to her heart's content.
At the Ligthouse, you will find items on the wall that tell the story of Winston-Salem - history, after all, is very important to the brothers.
Nick was born in 1938 and Louis in 1939. The exact dates are not known but sometime after the harvest of the grapes which is in October. And birthdays aren't celebrated in Greece just Name Days. Their parents were Haralambos and Politimi Doumas. The boys did not have much time with their dad as he died unexpectedly in 1941 and the next 6 years would be hard ones. Politimi was left to care for two young boys at a time when Europe was in the beginnings of World War II. Their village was uprooted and destroyed by the various entering and exiting armies but it was not until Greece entered its own civil war of communist versus loyalist that the young boys became exposed to the horrors of neighbor against neighbor. When Nick was nine, it fell to him to bury his neighbor who had been killed. At a moment's notice, their mother would have to pack up all of their important items (including the chicken and the cat) and grabbing the boys by the hand, would head up into the hills to hide, returning to their home only when it was safe.
During the day, the boys were left in the home while their mother walked the 2 miles down the mountain to a little plot of ground that she farmed. At night all of the windows and curtains had to remain closed as snipers would fire into the homes that the light shone from. Food was scarce and they ate dandelions for greens. She would feed them the cornmeal she made into bread but for herself, she ate acorn bread which was very bitter and caused her to swell. When the opportunity came for Nick to come to America, his maternal uncle offered to sponsor him, Politimi jumped at the offer.
At 12 1/2, Nick was ready to leave - with 2 wooden suitcases in his hand - he said goodbye to his mother and brother. His mother kissed him, handed him half a baked chicken, and told him never to come back - there was nothing there for him. Nick arrived in New York in January of 1952. It would be 14 years before he would see his brother again and 16 years before he would see his mother. Their reunion was bitter sweet. He had lived up to his promise and succeeded as his mother had hoped but the little boy no longer stood before her. He was 28 with a wife and 4 children. Both brothers have a bond to each other that is unbreakable and it was the early years of protecting each other in order to survive that built the bond they have today.
Politimi lived with Louis and his wife and 2 children until her death in 1997. Her great love was to garden and she was able to spend every day planting to her heart's content.
At the Ligthouse, you will find items on the wall that tell the story of Winston-Salem - history, after all, is very important to the brothers.
Copyright . Lighthouse Grill. Gena Cook. All rights reserved.
