SAVANNAH, Ga — After 30 years of serving authentic Greek cuisine to Savannah’s residents and visitors, Olympia Café has notified the City of Savannah that it will not be reopening its doors.
City leaders told WSAV on Monday that the restaurant was temporarily closed due to the construction of the Thomas Gamble Building.
“When they closed at the end of ‘25, we all thought they would be coming back,” Cristy Lawrence, City of Savannah senior director for Real Estate and Capital Projects.
Lawrence said that during this time, the city and Olympia Café owners were actively negotiating lease agreements until that conversation suddenly came to a halt.
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Olympia Café attorneys sent Savannah City Manager Jay Melder a letter stating, “I am sorry to report to you that Vasilis Varlagas and Laura Papas (widow of Nick Papas) have been unable to resolve differences related to the ownership of the restaurant and are parting ways.”
Olympia Cafe Notice (2)Download
Many in the community said they are saddened by the news. One Savannah Resident of 17 years said the restaurant felt like home…