Community members are mourning following the death of local restaurant owner George Mavrakakis, who was killed in a crash late Tuesday night on Highway 88 near Sideroad 10.
Mavrakakis, 39, was the co-owner, with brother Themos, of Pioneer Restaurant in downtown Bradford.
There has been a flood of messages from local residents, customers and community members over the past few days on social media, expressing their shock and sadness over the news.
On Thursday morning, bouquets of flowers were left on the restaurant’s front doors.
Laura Martin, who lives in an apartment above the restaurant, remembers Mavrakakis as a kind and friendly man who was always smiling and happy.
“I still can’t believe it,” she said. “We used to chat all the time about anything and everything. Just a beautiful soul. I’m going to miss him as will the entire community who knew him.”
Rhonda Emmel used to work at the restaurant and has always been close with Mavrakakis and his family.
“He was a gentle giant,” she said. “He always had a smile on his face, even if he was having a bad day. He always greeted you with a smile, always said ‘thank you,’ always treated you like family.”
The Mavrakakis family has owned and operated the business since 1982. Mavrakakis’s father originally owned the restaurant in the 1980s, where Mavrakakis started working at the age of 11. The family sold the business before moving the back to Greece for a few years.
They later returned to Canada, and in 2008 Mavrakakis and his brother saw the restaurant for sale on Kijiji and bought it together.
The brothers had been working side by side there every day since, with regular customers who felt like family.
“He was always so friendly and kind to staff and customers. He even cooked me a burger every shift to take home when I was done,” said former restaurant employee Stephanie Tremblay.
Tremblay says Mavrakakis was her first boss while she was working as a waitress at the restaurant in 2010.
“His family had my family for Thanksgiving that year in the restaurant. I have never felt more appreciated at a job,” she said.
Even after she left, she would still come in regularly.
“He would always make my meals extra special,” she said.
“He put his soul into that restaurant for his parents. He was very liked and respected and will be deeply missed.”
For now, the restaurant is closed until further notice as the family grieves the tragic loss.
“There’s a lot of decisions that need to be made (about the business),” said Emmel. “It’s all up in the air right now. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. Everything is just so fresh. ... We are living it minute by minute.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by friend Jenn Weatherbee to help with funeral arrangements and support for the family.
She says the family is thankful for all the support during this difficult time.
Mavrakakis leaves behind two children, Nina and Michael.
“He loved them so much. They were his pride and joy,” said Martin.
“It's very devastating,” said Emmel. “It’s hard to wrap your head around.”
How the collision happened Tuesday night is still under investigation. South Simcoe police are asking any witnesses with information or dash-cam footage to come forward. Witnesses can contact Const. Tiago Capeloa at 905-775-3311, 705-436-2141, ext. 1490, or [email protected].
“Somebody must have seen something,” said Emmel, who urges anyone with information to contact police. “It would mean a whole lot to the police or his family just to know what happened.”
