What does it take for a new restaurant to survive? Before anything else, hard work, says Alexandra Georgiou, who opened Yoleni’s in downtown Providence last spring with sons John and Jimmy Phillippides.
They all put in long days running the market-café at 292 Westminster St., stocked with traditional Greek offerings from organic producers in Greece.
“You do what you have to do,” she said, adding that her sons have been “instrumental” in keeping things running smoothly.
Georgiou said her family has a history of running their own businesses. When they selected the site for the restaurant, the building needed to be cleaned out. The costs were high, but they pieced together the financing. They were one of a handful of businesses chosen by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza’s administration to get help from the Providence Business Loan Fund.
So far, the business is doing well, Georgiou said, but it requires consistent attention and focus. Sometimes, she’ll treat herself to some of the authentic Greek cuisine.
“I enjoy the food,” she quipped, “so I have that.”
Scott Blake is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Blake@PBN.com.