Council gives nod to rebuild Greek restaurant destroyed by fire

• Family looking to rebuild well-known Greek restaurant
• Project will include three apartments

After a devastating fire destroyed a popular Kelowna restaurant last year, the owners are ready to rebuild.

The Olympia Greek Taverna was destroyed in October 2020.

Long-time family owners, the Koutsantonis, submitted a new design to city council that included three residential units atop the restaurant.

It will be built in the same location along Highway 33 in downtown Rutland.

Lawmakers unanimously approved the development, welcoming not only the return of a community staple, but the addition of homes to Rutland’s urban core.

“Thank you all,” Mike Koutsantonis told councilors Tuesday evening. “[We are] looking forward to having some wine and calamari in our restaurant with all of you again.”

Coun. Maxine DeHart was delighted to see the application come forward in the wake of the tragedy.

“I know it has been a long process and very mixed emotional time for all of you and for all of us who supported you, it was emotional, too,” she said, holding back tears. “I can’t wait to see the finished project.”

Others applauded the Koutsantonis for their commitment to the community, recalling fond memories of various events and fundraisers that took place at the former location.

In plans submitted to the city, the new development will include three, two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. These will take up some space on the second floor, as well as the entire third storey.

Inside the restaurant, there will be a dining area on the main floor, with a dining room and rooftop terrace under a glass ceiling on the second.

The outdoor design will be quite similar to the former location, with a terracotta roof, concrete block masonry, stone veneer cladding, and wooden architectural windows.

Koutsantonis expects the restaurant open in late-June 2022.