At the Coronado Ferry Landing, Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine is quietly making changes both inside and outside of the business.
“I work with our general manager, who takes care of the operations within the restaurant,” says Michael Chaconas, the oldest son of Nancy and Spiro Chaconas. “Now with the Coronado Ferry Landing renovation project, I’m making sure the ball keeps rolling. My parents are taking a step back. I’ve grown up [in the restaurant]. I’ve worked here during my high school summers, and a bit in college. I’ve spent a lot of time there and been on and off helping where I can, but now that my parents have taken a step back, my involvement is now a leadership role.”
Coronado community
Michael is continuing Nancy and Spiro’s dedication to the community. “We have such a good relationship with Coronado locals. The Ferry Landing is great for foot traffic, especially with the ferry bringing tourists over. But we rely heavily on our involvement within the community, and really take pride in our reputation in the community. Tourism is nice, but we definitely care about our locals.”
As a local himself, Michael knows what it’s like to be part of the community. “I’m super grateful for my time at Coronado High School. I had wonderful teachers, and it prepared me well for college.” After Michael graduated from CHS, he went on to earn a degree from Point Loma Nazarene University.
A refresh at Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine
The Coronado Ferry Landing will be updating and remodeling a lot of the exterior structures, so Spiro’s will do some remodeling of their interior space. “We’re excited to do this,” said Michael. “This place has so much potential and opportunity. We want to refresh it and make everything look nice while keeping our character. It’s a balance between the new and keeping our existing charm.”
Michael says customers can expect fresh paint, new furniture and fixtures. They are working on ideas for the outdoor patio as well.
Inside the business
With his new role and increased responsibility, Michael talks about the restaurant business. “There are so many moving parts. The task list is never-ending. We have a great staff. A lot of our employees have been with us for a long time, so it’s about looking after them, making sure everyone’s happy, and that there are no conflicts.”
The seasons greatly affect businesses in Coronado, as tourism ramps up during the summer months. “Summers are a great time for business. Then in the fall there is a lot to manage. We’re not going to have as much in sales. We have to decide how many staff to employ at a time, how much product to buy, and how much life we can get out of our ingredients. In the non-summer slower months, that’s a big juggle.” There’s also the task of pricing the items on the menu. They don’t want to keep raising prices and Michael says it’s a balancing game as vendors raise prices and taxes go up.
Must-try menu at Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine
“It’s got to be the gyro,” Michael says when asked about his favorite menu item. Aside from the great taste, there’s a story behind it. “My dad’s Greek, my mom’s not. My mom fell in love with Greek food in Greece. The gyro was one of the main dishes she really liked, so that was her first inspiration. Our first [business] name was Spiro’s Gyros, which I still really like. I kind of want to go back to it,” he laughs. The gyro is still known as their speciality and it’s made with a blend of lamb and beef. There is also a chicken gyro, and both versions are offered as a sandwich or a platter.
On the various platters, in addition to the featured item (kabob, gyro, lamb chops, salmon, and more), customers get a Greek salad, and a choice of rice pilaf or fries.
“I love our kebab platters. Those are really popular. People love our salads. I love our Avgolemeno soup. That’s definitely my favorite soup anywhere. It translates to egg lemon. It’s an egg-lemon broth with chunks of chicken and orzo pasta. It’s really good.”
With family packs and party packs, it’s “the more the merrier” at Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine! “We love to cater in Coronado. We’ll work with customers for smaller parties.” Michael encourages those with small party requests to call or place an order online. If it’s a larger group requiring more assistance, make a note of that or call. Depending on availability, they may be able to do more to meet your needs.
A note to the community
“We’re just so grateful to have this community,” said Michael. “My parents have lived here for so long. I was born and raised here. I just have so much love for the island and the community itself. It’s heaven on earth. I’ve gotten so much out of growing up here. My parents’ friends. The friends that I’ve made here. Going through the schools. I have so much to give. I feel this duty to give back. It’s a family being on this little island. I get a lot of pleasure and joy out of being of service. My whole family feels this way.”
Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine
1201 First Street
Coronado Ferry Landing
619-435-1225
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