DETROIT – Olga’s Kitchen announced Monday that its founder and Detroit native Olga Loizon died this afternoon surrounded by family. Returning to her waiting children without the rotisserie, Loizon then visited an uncle and he was able to buy the rotisserie for her. She was 92. Donations made to the foundation will benefit young women with a passion for entrepreneurship. She made regular appearances as late as last year. Olga's Kitchen, a longtime Southeast Michigan staple known for its Mediterranean-style sandwiches wrapped in "Olga" pita bread, got its start in Loizon's Birmingham driveway in 1965. Not that it was easy. Olga built her business on the quality of the food and the personalized service that patrons would experience. In this case, the fortune teller got it right, since Olga’s name is indeed in lights at the 26 locations of Olga’s Kitchen. I'm Greek-American. Loizon noted in a past interview with Hometown Life, “I did it to make my kids happy. She and Bill were practically on top of each other. She completed the sandwich with fresh tomatoes and sweet onions, and wrapped it in an Olga’s Kitchen pita bread, reminiscent of souvlaki she had enjoyed in Greece. “She loved her family beyond measure. In 1976, she was bought out by a group of investors who had tasted the sandwiches at a catered party and were immediately smitten.

Olga Loizon, who founded Olga's Kitchen restaurants in Birmingham, died Monday at age 92, according to a statement from Team Schostak Family Restaurants, which now owns the chain. The first location opened in Birmingham, Michigan in 1970, which is now closed. The Birmingham resident died Monday at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, a restaurant spokesperson said. The space she rented from Continental Market was 11-by-10 feet, she said. He told me to get out. I said, 'I've got money. She sold the concept to private investors in 1976. And, a special thank you to the Detroit Free Press for its article on Olga and her journey to creating one of Detroit’s most iconic restaurants.

"I had to make it at home and drive it in. She opened her first sandwich shop, originally called Olga's Souvlaki, in a small 11-by-10-foot space inside what was then the Continental Market in Birmingham. Olga Loizon started the sandwich chain from her driveway in Birmingham. We are so proud of her legacy and know she and her story will continue to serve as an esteemed role model and inspiration for entrepreneurs, especially fellow females with the drive to make their dreams a reality. In 2017, the Detroit Greek Independence Day Committee awarded Loizon the Greektown Preservation Society Award for her contribution to Greek culture in Michigan. The iconic restaurateur, best known for her signature Original Olga at her namesake restaurant, created the concept for Olga’s Kitchen following a trip to Greece. The native of Detroit was known for her unique pita bread sandwiches, spinach pies, and curly fries. "She went through so many obstacles and did things that were completely bucking the trend of what a woman of that time should be doing.". As of January 2019 , there were twenty-seven restaurants: twenty-six in Michigan, and one in Illinois. Age 92 of Birmingham. In 1975, Loizon sold the Olga's concept to a group of private investors. Then she goes, 'Oh.' … Yet the restaurant chain never really caught on out of state. By the mid-1980’s Olga’s Kitchen was flourishing and had a chain of over 50 sit-down restaurants spanning the USA. With a Crain’s Detroit Subscription you get exclusive access, insights and experiences to help you succeed in business. It was in 1976. The tale ended Monday with the death of the irrepressible Mrs. Loizon of Birmingham. Loizon is survived by her husband, John Loizon; three children, Emily Kontos, Bill Loizon and Ernest Loizon; and two grandchildren, Angelo Kontos and Katina Kontos. Olga’s Kitchen is an American chain of Greek-American family restaurants located primarily in the Midwestern United States, named after the founder, Olga Loizon (1926–2019). The company was sold to two private investors in 1976. We're cutting meat and making pita bread when mom said, 'Don't say anything, but your dad is out there.' Loizon, a Detroit native, started the business in Birmingham and, after selling her ownership stake in the mid-1970s, continued to have roles in the growing enterprise and made regular appearances at Olga's Kitchen restaurants well into her twilight years, greeting customers and taste-testing dishes in her namesake kitchens. She will never be forgotten and will forever be missed.". Nearly half a century later, Mrs. Loizon was still miffed while being interviewed by The Detroit News for a story in 2014. Olga Loizon, founder of Olga's Kitchen. State backs off requiring restaurants to deny service for COVID contact-tracing data after ACLU got involved, Restaurants enraged, confused over new COVID-19 contact tracing information collection order, HopCat owner sells assets in $17.5 million deal; buyers ‘strongly believe' in chain, Sponsored Content: How MSU is helping support Michigan during the pandemic. The rent was $150 a month. She then spent several years experimenting in her Birmingham home with recipes for what became Olga's Kitchen pita bread. I didn't want to hear if it was bad news. What made them even more special were the secret ingredients she used in the making of the freshly baked gyro bread. In addition to her husband and son, Mrs. Loizon is survived by another son, Ernest Loizon; and a daughter, Emily Kontos. It was an opportunity for her and her three small children to get reconnected with their Greek heritage…and in the process, Olga would discover her legacy. How did you like my Olga bread?,' " Gianino recalled. Even after selling her ownership stake in the mid-1970’s, Olga continued to grow the empire of Olga’s Kitchen restaurants.

© 2020 www.freep.com. She ended up creating an empire that was inspired by her Greek roots.

During a family vacation to Greece a few years prior, Loizon had conceived the idea of transforming the Greek souvlaki sandwich that she enjoyed into her own Greek-inspired pita wrap. "Our beloved mother and grandmother lived a long, happy and successful life that has always amazed and inspired each one of us. I can say that now, but it was all a bit secret then.". She is also survived by three children, Emily Kontos, Bill Loizon and Ernest Loizon and two grandchildren. IT and Network Administrator / Tech Support. He might have been hanging around for a while. The founder and namesake of Michigan’s iconic Olga’s … Olga Loizon is the founder of Olga's Kitchen, a Southeast Michigan restaurant chain known for its Mediterranean-style sandwiches wrapped in … Who could resist the lamb and beef, seasoned with Greek spices, with the added bonus of that tangy “Olgasauce,” as she dubbed it? "She would walk in and say hello to everybody and ask 'How was your meal? She sold the concept to private investors in 1976. 200C, Livonia, MI 48152, or made in person at any Olga's Kitchen restaurant. It was in her Birmingham home that Loizon created the original Olga's sandwich of seasoned lamb and beef, smothered with tangy "Olgasauce," topped with tomatoes and sweet onions, and wrapped in a signature pita-like bread. "Her passion for her work and Olga's kitchen was unmatched, marketing for the brand at every turn," said a son, Bill Loizon. It would grow into a popular restaurant chain known as Olga’s Kitchen, and would be frequented by generations of metro Detroiters. Well-known Detroit denizen and proud Greek-American, Olga Loizon, has died at age 92. In addition to her husband and son, Mrs. Loizon is survived by another son, Ernest Loizon; and a daughter, Emily Kontos. Olga's Kitchen In Alton Celebrates World Bread Day With A Free Side Of Olga's Snackers For Customers. But the brand never resonated in outside markets to the degree it had in Michigan. The death was announced by TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants, which bought the company in 2015. It is now owned by Livonia-based Team Schostak Family Restaurants and has more than 25 locations across Southeast Michigan. TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants said it has launched the Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation and that more information will be available about the foundation in the coming days. It is beautiful to hear countless stories of how she inspired so many others with her accomplishments," her son Bill Loizon said in a written statement. Helping you succeed in business since 1985. I left a cab waiting — I told him I'd be half an hour.”.
DETROIT – Greek-American Olga Loizon, the founder of Olga’s Kitchen, has passed away at age 92. The second-born …