The 3 men pooled their information and you can bought Carl’s Drive-Inside for the North Main Road, that they renamed The newest Windmill

During this time period, Jimmy gone back to Greece in hopes of providing their last aunt, Panagiotis, back once again to the us

Immediately after their release on the provider into the 1958, Jimmy joined their sister Tony and you can worked at some dining into the the San francisco area. Children buddy and you can previous resistance fighter back in Greece, Aris Zavitsanos, was training Greek at Shelter Code Institute in the Monterey. He called Jimmy and his aunt out of a restaurant available regarding small farming community out-of Watsonville, just southern away from Bay area. Following one, Jimmy and Tony bought one minute bistro, the brand new 24 hour Steakhouse during the nearby Pajaro. Jimmy jokes when he recalls those times. “If pubs signed, many of their clients would are in to eat. ”

There are minutes the authorities had to be named when the drunken customers carry out get free from hands

“The latest Greek Orthodox Church has always been a conference spot for Greeks in the a community,” told you Jimmy. “Newcomers so you can a place could go around and you can see most other Greeks and you will we’d suggest to them up to which help her or him rating settled.”

While he is actually visiting, certainly Jimmy’s uncles pulled your away and you may whispered so you’re able to Jimmy, “You need to get partnered. You will find four qualified ladies on the village,” and you may create getting your to meet up the ladies. Jimmy concurred, however, their bro taught your “not state something” thus he might subtly prefer a bride-to-be. Jimmy’s upcoming wife, Eleni, are among the many four qualified young women. Just after a-one-day courtship, Jimmy sprang practical question in addition they had married on may 26, 1963. Jimmy returned to the us to get the files necessary for Eleni to immigrate and she entered your a few months after.

Once their wedding from inside the Greece, Jimmy and you can Eleni returned to the usa and you will compensated within houston women seeking women the Watsonville, Ca, several other brief farming town about 29 kilometers out-of Salinas inside the Santa Cruz Condition. In the 1966, Jimmy is actually reunited together with youngest aunt, Tasos, just who along with made a decision to accept in the Watsonville together with girlfriend, Theodora. Jimmy and you will Eleni raised one or two daughters, Anna and you can Sophie. The happy couple remained dedicated to the newest Greek Orthodox believe and you will continued attending St. John the brand new Baptist within the Salinas, where both of their daughters was baptized.

Once the Greek people regarding the Monterey Bay increased, Jimmy and his friends proceeded employed in brand new restaurant team and you may produced the new long push to help you Salinas all the Week-end to attend church. The newest Greeks exactly who resided and you may worked for the Watsonville started initially to discuss how to establish a church nearer to home. Talks about how far better present a new parish turned so much more concentrated. Weekly organizational meetings were held and also the number of people at such conferences grew. On middle-70s, Jimmy, Tony, and around three others each discussed $5.00 and you can opened a checking account to begin with preserving the cash had a need to expose another Greek Orthodox parish area. It actually was called the Missionary Chapel out of Santa Cruz Condition.

Which center gang of Greeks relentlessly sought out a property having the fresh church. Raising currency try a top priority. They stored picnics, hosted cook conversion, one thing they could do in order to raise currency toward produce. All of these events took place at the Harvey West Park during the Santa Cruz, and it try there that the Greek Festival started. Judge actions have been taken to expose the brand new parish, nevertheless the Santa Cruz Greek society however couldn’t see a good house due to their chapel.

In the 1979, the fresh new Greek Orthodox bishop into the San francisco assigned Father John Karastamatis so you can direct the latest Santa Cruz congregation, and you can an early priest along with his wife Anastasia began to engage on lookup. “We possibly may visit churches from other denominations to hold our functions,” Jimmy explained. “Everywhere we could be in, we’d wade.” One of several metropolitan areas commonly used was the new church towards the university of your own Monterey Bay Academy, a seventh-day Adventist individual university close Watsonville.