Local residents share memories of the beloved restaurant that closed in the 1980s.
Jackie O's Pub and Brewery is not the first Athens staple to sit at 22. W. Union St.
In fact, for more than 30 years, both students and Athens residents frequented the Towne House Restaurant, which used to sit at what is now the public house side of Jackie O's.
Nostalgic feelings likely prompted the latest Athens Asks question: What ever happened to the Towne House Restaurant?
Alex Couladis, an Athens County native and current owner of the buildings occupied by Jackie O's and The Union Bar and Grill, said his family has a history with the building.
“My father and mother owned the building, and my mother’s brother was Emmanuel Gevas, and his brother in law was Gus Karageorge,” Couladis said. “They were co-owners of the place and our families were friends”
Couladis, who grew up in Athens during the 1960-70s, remembers the Towne House as one of the more popular restaurants in the area.
“I graduated in high school in ‘71,” he said. “My brothers and I, during busy weekends, would bus tables, but I used to go there a lot and have lunch and hang out because it was kind of a hub for the community.”
The Ohio National Guard marches in front of the Towne House Restaurant in 1970 following the shootings at Kent State University. The restaurant used to occupy the building at 22 W. Union St, where the public house of Jackie O's Pub and Brewery currently sits. (Old: Provided via the Athens County Historical Society and Museum; New: Jonny Palermo | For The Post)
Couladis said the food, especially the homemade pies, drew a lot of patrons to the restaurant.
“They had specials every day. One of the things that they were most famous for was their pies, especially the meringues, like lemon and coconut creme,” he said. “They had blue plate specials with, I guess, what you would call comfort food.”
Pete Couladis, Alex’s brother and the current chairman of the Athens County Republican Party, can remember "3.2" beer, or beer with a slightly lower alcohol content of 3.2 percent, being served at the Towne House.
“Back then it was 3.2 beer... and you could have it between 18 and 21 (years old),” Couladis said. "They had the bar at night for the students, but as I recall, it was mostly townspeople and university professors that resided and ate there during the day.”
Tom O’Grady, museum director at the Athens County Historical Society and Museum, was also a frequent customer at the Towne House.
“Everyone would go there, families, friends, businessmen,” O’Grady said. “They had the typical breakfast and lunches, but we didn’t eat as much as we drank coffee and got work done. Everything was served on clean porcelain plates.”
The restaurant was also known for its wait staff, O'Grady said.
“The waitresses were all dressed the same,” he said. “One-piece white dresses and white shoes, they were all at least over 40, they weren’t students, they were full time employees — but they were a lot of fun.”
After years of continued success, the Towne House closed its doors at some point in the 1980s, Alex Couladis said.
“(Karageorge) passed away, they kept it open for a while after that,” Couladis said. "Eventually, Emmanuel Gevas decided to retire, so he sold it at some point in the mid-80s, I’d have to guess.”
The memory of the Towne House is not lost to Athenians, according to Pete, who said "they still talk about the pies."
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