'Personal touch' helps family eatery thrive

Many small, family-owned businesses in the United States are struggling to survive because, along with the sluggish economy, they face stiff competition from well-known chain stores and restaurants.

However, one small, family-owned restaurant just outside of Washington, DC, is not only surviving, it's thriving.

It's another busy day at Primo Family Restaurant, a popular dining spot in Alexandria, Virginia, for more than 25 years. C.A. Savoy says, he doesn't like the atmosphere or food at the chain restaurants. He enjoys Primo's.

"Everything in here is home cooking," Savoy says. "It's all fresh food and delicious."

Server Tina Mitrakas has worked at Primo's since it opened. "I like my customers. Everybody is friendly. I like the people I work with. It's like my second home."

Lynne Sepple's son Nick is here, celebrating his birthday. "My son has been here since he was six days old. He's been here once a week since then and now he's ten."

Mary Wise often stops by after work. She plays the role of Martha Washington, wife of the first US president at the nearby Mount Vernon where the Washingtons lived. Wise says Primo's feels comfortable. "It is a place where you can consistently have good food, not too expensive. You know you're never going to be confronted with something that's a surprise. I think people like that."

Another appeal, she says, is owner Jim Nicopoulos.

"I like to get involved with my clients," he says. "I find out about them. I touch them. I have to be involved with my customers and my staff at the same time."

Everyone calls him Jimmy, including Savoy and his wife who are long-time patrons.

"We've become part of Jimmy's family now," Savoy says. "He refers to Joyce and I as his mother and father."

Jimmy bought Primo's five years ago, and it is truly a family business, from the old photos on the wall, to the dining area, where his father-in-law seats patrons, to the kitchen, where his cousin Spiro Routoulas prepares Greek specialties.

"He's a funny guy," Routoulas says. "He comes inside the kitchen and tastes what I make. Oh, it's fun."

Besides the food and friendliness, Jimmy says Primo's has another appeal over the chain restaurants.

"Chain restaurants have to go through a process of buying their food from large industries and distributors," he says. "We can get our produce local and our meats."

Elizabeth Bessel notices the difference, and stays away from the nearby chains.

"I don't find the food [there] to be that great," she says. "When I eat here, Jimmy will come to the table and tell us that he got that produce from somebody's farm."

Nicopoulos thinks there's room in the neighborhood for both family and chain restaurants.

His customers agree. "It's been here for 25 years and I see it being here for 25 more years."

Related stories:

Rent hike may close popular restaurant

紐約餐館擬禁售大容量含糖飲料

流動的美食：巴士餐廳 Bustaurant

英國人外出就餐 快餐成首選

（來源：VOA 編輯：旭燕）