The Olympia has been in the same location for over a century!  The Olympia originated in 1906 as the OLYMPIA CANDY WORKS by a Greek family and its patriarch, Tony Bakogeorge.   They made candies, chocolates and ice cream plus, a successful wholesale delivery business serving the area with another location in Orillia.   Their business was such a success that people from all over the county would saddle up to the marble-topped soda fountain and watched as soda jerks created ice cream fantasies.

By the 1930's Tony Bakogeorge sold the operations to his manager, Chris Tozios and his wife.   They added a kitchen and named it THE OLYMPIA TEA ROOM.  A few years later, Mr. Tozios died, and his wife, affectionately known as "Ma Tozios" took over.  For almost 30 years she ran the place watching over the kids that came in to have cherry cokes and fries and listen to the music from the juke boxes.

In 1956 Ma Tozios remodelled into the 50's motif of an upscale diner.   She later retired and the restaurant went through a series of short-lived owners and incarnations until local restauranteurs Chris and Cathe Karkabasis came onto the scene.  In 1981 they bought the business and immediately changed the name to THE OLYMPIA RESTAURANT CAFÉ & BAR.  They quickly established a reputation for good food and friendly service.

In 1993, their children Nicki and Louis Karkabasis decided it was time for a change.  Now newly renovated, the Olympia still stands on the shoulders of its great historic past but with a new energy and outlook.  Presently operated by Nicki and her husband, Costas Dedes, they still offer excellent food and warm hospitality that has been the secret to the Olympia's longevity.

If you have any stories, anecdotes, old photos or memorabilia we would be very interested in hearing from you.   Please call us at 705-328-1444 or email us anytime.