Parthenon - Ann Arbor

Parthenon Restaurant.

The Parthenon was a traditional American-Greek restaurant located in downtown at the northwest corner of Main Street and Liberty Street. It was owned by the brothers John & Steve Gavas, and operated from 1975 until 2012.

They were the first place in Ann Arbor to introduce the Greek Gyros sandwich. After several years, the Parthenon switched from an all-day cafeteria line to waiter service in the evening.

The building had previously been occupied by Cunningham Drug Store, which operated there from 1940 until 1971. The Gavas brothers removed most of the drug store's distinctive green metal paneling on the exterior, exposing the brick wall of the former Mack & Co. department store, which had been located there until 1935.

The Parthenon closed in 2012. It was replaced by a new restaurant Lena and a new location for Cafe Habana.

In the news

Saying goodbye to a tradition, Ann Arbor's Parthenon Restaurant closes – Michigan Radio, April 6, 2012

Downtown Ann Arbor's Parthenon Restaurant to auction remaining inventory on Wednesday – AnnArbor.com, April 2, 2012

Parthenon Restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor to close March 31 following sale – AnnArbor.com, March 14, 2012

Downtown Ann Arbor's Parthenon Restaurant making way for Cafe Habana after sale – AnnArbor.com, Jan. 23, 2012

The 4,000-square-foot Parthenon Restaurant, which is owned by John and Steve Gavas, was listed for sale for $650,000. Ann Arbor-based Curtis Commercial owns the building on the corner of Main and Liberty streets.

Lila Kalick: My big fat Greek finale at Parthenon – Michigan Daily, April 5, 2011

Parthenon Restaurant merges the best of old and new – AnnArbor.com, June 16, 2010

Restaurant Opens on South Main Street – Ann Arbor News, Jan. 31, 1975 (via Ann Arbor District Library's Old News)

The Parthenon Gyros Restaurant has been opened at S. Main and Liberty St. in a building most recently occupied by Pots and Plants and formerly by the Cunningham Drug Store.