So very sad. Went by last night and the open signs weren't lit. Sometimes, they forget, but the lights were off.
The note on the door said they couldn't renew their lease and were closed.
We were there Saturday and it was so quiet, probably not 20 diners and few carryouts. It's no surprise that the mom and pop places are really struggling, here's another example. Yianni has been in the restaurant business a long time and if he couldn't handle this severe downturn, who can?
Hopefully the Georgiades will find a way to reopen somewhere else.
Replies
26
Beach Fanatic
Very Sad. I went there every Friday night for the Yanni Burger, the Calamari, or one of their incredible salads. The part I will really miss is having the option of bringing my own wine to a local restaurant, for the life of me I don't think there are any others on 30A that do that.
Yanni and his wonderful and "clean" restaurant will be missed by this SoWaller.!
Yanni and his wonderful and "clean" restaurant will be missed by this SoWaller.!
Beach Fanatic
It breaks my heart to see this happening!
Beach Fanatic
OOOOOOOH!!! NOOOOOO!!! We love Yianni's
. I'm just sorry we were not in Sowal enough to make a difference. I hope they can find another even better location.
We love Yianni's. I'm just sorry we were not in Sowal enough to make a difference. I hope they can find another even better location.
SWGB
Very Sad. I went there every Friday night for the Yanni Burger, the Calamari, or one of their incredible salads. The part I will really miss is having the option of bringing my own wine to a local restaurant, for the life of me I don't think there are any others on 30A that do that.
Yanni and his wonderful and "clean" restaurant will be missed by this SoWaller.!
Many restaurants will let you do this, there may be a corkage fee involved, but most places are perfectly happy to let you bring your own.
Beach Lover
Oh, tell me this isn't so! Our family thrives on Yianni's and love Mrs. G.
Beach Fanatic
We were there Friday night - they had a good crowd.
I hope this is a bad joke!!!
The Yianni burger is a favorite of mine!!!
I hope this is a bad joke!!!
The Yianni burger is a favorite of mine!!!
SoWal StaffAuthor
There's hope
The latest is that Yianni hopes to find another place and open sometime in February.
As to bringing wine, he allowed his customers to bring any adult beverage, no fee. I don't think anyone else on 30A does that. We've even seen folks roll in coolers filled with beer!
For us it wasn't just a place to dine, but to meet first-timers and rave about the Yianni burger or urge them to try the carrot cake. In the fall, it was the perfect place to catch up with friends who were venturing out once the tourists were gone.
It was, and hopefully will be again, a locals place that we will gladly share.
The latest is that Yianni hopes to find another place and open sometime in February.
As to bringing wine, he allowed his customers to bring any adult beverage, no fee. I don't think anyone else on 30A does that. We've even seen folks roll in coolers filled with beer!
For us it wasn't just a place to dine, but to meet first-timers and rave about the Yianni burger or urge them to try the carrot cake. In the fall, it was the perfect place to catch up with friends who were venturing out once the tourists were gone.
It was, and hopefully will be again, a locals place that we will gladly share.
Admin
Your first post implies they had trouble making the rent. Maybe it is simply business.
Beach Fanatic
My first guess would have been that the building owner wanted to substantially raise the rent on them.
SoWal StaffAuthor
Your first post implies they had trouble making the rent. Maybe it is simply business.Sorry, should have said it was a problem negotiating a new lease.
SoWal Insider
My first guess would have been that the building owner wanted to substantially raise the rent on them.
Agree...the commercial RE boom is the next leg down. Commercial property investulators across the nation are having the same problems as homeowers, trying to come up with the mortgage payments as expenses continue to rise. The fact that we're going deeper into recession and the consumers are cutting way back on buying stuff and food is shrinking merchants' profit margins at the same time commercial property owners are trying to make the monthly nut by jacking up rents.
It's sad to see businesses disappearing, but it is the logical outcome of the frenzied RE money-grab from daze gone by.
.
Beach Fanatic
Landlords in South Walton had better realize that something is better than nothing! There is plenty of available space for good reason and it really is sad to see complexes with so many empty units. Small businesses have little chance with the present situation, even with a good "season". PLEASE support your local merchants or we will not have any left.
SoWal Insider
Landlords in South Walton had better realize that something is better than nothing!
I don't think they have a choice--they're bleeding out money and have no option left to keep from sinking further underwater other than jacking up rents. Many are probably commerical property investulators who were trying to get rich quick--kinda like condo investulators, only more clueless to the risk of the economy going into the crapper.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
What a shame! We loved Yianni's! It was a crowd pleaser -- you could get a great salad, a burger, pizza, fish. And surprisingly it was all great! I also loved being able to bring your own wine with no corkage fee! I hope that they will reopen!! There should be plenty of locations to choose from -- I just hope it's close to our beach house, please!
Beach Crab
Yiannis
This is a crime!! Maybe Obam can help - this restaurant is one of the best on 30A, reasonable and delicious. Perhaps they can come back. This is the type quality restaurant that exemplies the taste of South Walton.
This is a crime!! Maybe Obam can help - this restaurant is one of the best on 30A, reasonable and delicious. Perhaps they can come back. This is the type quality restaurant that exemplies the taste of South Walton.
Beach Lover
Yanni's Greek Restaurant
Apologize if this has already been addressed........but,
does anyone know why YANNI'S on 30A closed?
thks
Apologize if this has already been addressed........but,
does anyone know why YANNI'S on 30A closed?
thks
Beach Lover
The rent went up and his wife has been ill for about 2 yrs. Good ? on why, in this economy, would the rent be raised. I think enough resturants have closed.
beats on hood
Fire. Not as in the restaurant, but as in the state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame. So sad.
For the record, it's Yianni's. Of course, I have never misspelled a word.
EDIT: I also have never made a mistake. I remember another thread on this topic. The fire didn't do enough damage to close it down.
For the record, it's Yianni's. Of course, I have never misspelled a word.
EDIT: I also have never made a mistake.
I remember another thread on this topic. The fire didn't do enough damage to close it down.Edited
Beach Fanatic
The rent went up and his wife has been ill for about 2 yrs. Good ? on why, in this economy, would the rent be raised. I think enough resturants have closed.
Who knows. Since Crist has been Governor we have seen a major drop in taxes and insurance rates according to the letter he sent me last week asking for a contribution. So not sure why rent would be doing anything but also falling.
fartblossom
ok, this enticed me out to post ...
i am sickened by this - this is/was our most absolute favorite place to eat when we come to sowal.
i am keeping my fingers crossed they can reopen someplace else. this is so sad, but it's happening a lot in our area too.
i am sickened by this - this is/was our most absolute favorite place to eat when we come to sowal.
i am keeping my fingers crossed they can reopen someplace else. this is so sad, but it's happening a lot in our area too.
Beach Fanatic
ok, this enticed me out to post ...
i am sickened by this - this is/was our most absolute favorite place to eat when we come to sowal.
i am keeping my fingers crossed they can reopen someplace else. this is so sad, but it's happening a lot in our area too.
Well put! I was in this restaurant every Friday night. There is a huge void now in our restaurant life here on 30A.
SWGB
I remember that originally it was supposedly due to a raise in rent. However, I have also heard that it was an issue with the septic tank. I can't believe a restaurant could be on one this close to the water, but hey weirder things have happened. They have since installed what looks like a new sewer line, could Yianni's be making a comeback.
Beach Fanatic
I remember that originally it was supposedly due to a raise in rent. However, I have also heard that it was an issue with the septic tank. I can't believe a restaurant could be on one this close to the water, but hey weirder things have happened. They have since installed what looks like a new sewer line, could Yianni's be making a comeback.[/QUOTE]
Please let it be true!
Beach Fanatic
I add to the sentiment "HOPE YIANNI'S WILL REOPEN, SOMEWHERE".
Great restaurant / delicious quality food / lovely people.
Great restaurant / delicious quality food / lovely people.
Beach Fanatic
Sorry we missed this spot while we were there. Where was it located? Hope it will reopen. (Haven't seen any closings here yet since the early closings due to downtown development - slowdown.)
We did eat out once a day while we were there, eating at some places new to us but going back to Bud & Alley's for view and appetizer and drinks and Red Bar for breakfast and lunch. ($8.50 for JD; the house bourbon was Early Times whiskey, we noticed when we sat at the bar.)
We will return in June. (Almost thought about coming down during spring break thinking that 30A wouldn't be as bad as PCB. Decided not to go broke this year.)
It was wonderful to get out and ride our bikes everyday (except new year's day - cold). Wonderful to walk to church and places to eat. Bought my older daughter's birthday gifts there too.
It was very quiet except around new years. Drove over to the Front Beach Road area - didn't stop at the Pier - lots of places offering free nights.
Happy New Year, Ellen
We did eat out once a day while we were there, eating at some places new to us but going back to Bud & Alley's for view and appetizer and drinks and Red Bar for breakfast and lunch. ($8.50 for JD; the house bourbon was Early Times whiskey, we noticed when we sat at the bar.)
We will return in June. (Almost thought about coming down during spring break thinking that 30A wouldn't be as bad as PCB. Decided not to go broke this year.)
It was wonderful to get out and ride our bikes everyday (except new year's day - cold). Wonderful to walk to church and places to eat. Bought my older daughter's birthday gifts there too.
It was very quiet except around new years. Drove over to the Front Beach Road area - didn't stop at the Pier - lots of places offering free nights.
Happy New Year, Ellen
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.