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["Louis Lou Berry Birurakis (b. March 22, 1926) is a native of Liberty, West Virginia in Scotts Run. His parents were Greek immigrants from Crete. His father was a coal miner who was blackballed for his participation in the union and after he was fired, started a business in Scotts Run. Birurakis was a football player at WVU and is an amateur historian and a writer. In the interview, he speaks about his family, growing up in Scotts Run, and his experience on the WVU football team. He also tells a story about his mothers encounter with Eleanor Roosevelt when she visited Scotts Run.This interview is part of a collection of interviews conducted with Scotts Run natives/residents and/or members of the Scotts Run Museum."]%

1. Louis “Lou” Berry Birurakis at the Scotts Run Museum, holding an art book about him created by one of Eve Faulkes' students at WVU

Identifier:
4224.BirurakisBerryLouis.Photo.001.2.23.19
Title:
Louis “Lou” Berry Birurakis at the Scotts Run Museum, holding an art book about him created by one of Eve Faulkes' students at WVU
Date:
4224.BirurakisBerryLouis.Photo.001.2.23.19
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Artists' books, Scott's Run (W. Va.), Community museums, Football players, Greek Americans
Location:
Scott's Run (W. Va.)
["Maria Kayafas has been the Greek dance instructor at the St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Wheeling for 25 years. She grew up in Kent, Ohio. In this interview, she talks about her family background and heritage, her experience as a Greek dancer and dance instructor, and the community at St. John the Divine. Learn more about the Wheeling Grecian Fest: http://www.grecianfest.com/"]%

2. Children's Greek dance troupe of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church performs at the 2017 Wheeling Grecian Fest

Identifier:
4224.KayafasMaria.Video.003.7.27.17
Title:
Children's Greek dance troupe of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church performs at the 2017 Wheeling Grecian Fest
Date:
2017-07-27
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Festivals, Greek Americans, Music, Greek and Roman, Folk dancing, Greek
Location:
Wheeling (W. Va.)
["Maria Kayafas has been the Greek dance instructor at the St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Wheeling for 25 years. She grew up in Kent, Ohio. In this interview, she talks about her family background and heritage, her experience as a Greek dancer and dance instructor, and the community at St. John the Divine. Learn more about the Wheeling Grecian Fest: http://www.grecianfest.com/"]%

3. Boy's Greek dance troupe of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church performs at the 2017 Wheeling Grecian Fest

Identifier:
4224.KayafasMaria.Video.004.7.27.17
Title:
Boy's Greek dance troupe of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church performs at the 2017 Wheeling Grecian Fest
Date:
2017-07-27
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Festivals, Folk dancing, Greek, Greek Americans, Music, Greek and Roman
Location:
Wheeling (W. Va.)
["Yasou Restaurant is a Greek restaurant and grocery in Kimball in McDowell County. The restaurant has been owned and operated since 2003 by Markella Gianato whose maternal grandfather John Genadopoulus and father Adamantios Tommy Balasis opened The West Virginia Grocery in the same location in 1947. Genadopolous bought the building from A.P. Wood, whose name still remains on the storefront. The Grocery shut down in 2001 after the July flood all but destroyed the building.Today the restaurant serves as a hub in the Kimball community. Menu offerings include gyros, Greek-style spaghetti and meatballs, spanakopita, Greek salad, pastitsio (a Greek pasta with meat and bchamel), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and saganaki (pan-seared Greek cheese).State folklorist Emily Hilliard interviewed Gianato about her family history, foodways, and the business on April 27, 2016, but the interview was lost when Folklife Program equipment was stolen. Gianatos Our History statement on the Yasou website:On February 7, 1947, the Greek-American families of John Genadopoulos and Adamantios Tommy Balasis and Mary Balasis purchased the A.P. Wood Grocery. Though the store was renamed the West Virginia Grocery, the name A.P. Wood remains etched in beautiful stained glass over the door at present day YaSou. From that time until the devasting flood of July 2001, the family kept the grocery in operation. Ten months later, a second major flood hit the town within days of the business being reopened. Despite this major setback, we were determined to move forward and reopen the business. Having my own restaurant was a lifelong dream, and on February 7, 2003, with the help of my mother Mary Balasis, my brothers John and Mathew, my husband Jimmy Joe, my son Adam, my mother-in-law Mary Verduce Gianato and the Grace of God, that dream became a reality with the opening of YaSou Restaurant. I am immensely proud of the success that I have achieved. I offer home-cooked meals, daily specials, and Greek cuisine along with many sandwich choices. Most of the recipes I have used have been handed down to me from my mother and grandmother. My love for the restaurant business came from my first job at the Virginian Restaurant in Pearisburg, Virginia, working under the guiding hands of, in my opinion, two of the greatest chefs, uncles and mentors, Mike and George Genadopoulos. It was my days at the Virginian that made me realize I would someday like to become a great chef. I strive for this every day. This has allowed me to meet many wonderful people who have stopped in along the way, as well as many local regulars who come in and make my day complete. We hope to serve you for many years to come. Everyone that comes here, even for one time, becomes a part of the labyrinth of my life and will always be part of the memories here. I want my guests to feel at home and comfortable when that are here. If you have any concerns or requests, please feel free to ask. ---MarkellaRead more on the Yasou website: https://yasourestaurant-restaurant.business.site/"]%

4. Photos of generations of Genadopoulus boys in Greek sailor suits, hanging on the wall at Yasou Greek Restaurant in Kimball

Identifier:
4224.YasouRestaurant.Photo.006.4.14.16
Title:
Photos of generations of Genadopoulus boys in Greek sailor suits, hanging on the wall at Yasou Greek Restaurant in Kimball
Date:
2016-04-14
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
Restaurants--United States, Greek American restaurateurs, Greek Americans, Restaurants--Design and construction, Cooking, Greek
Location:
Kimball (W. Va.)
["Yasou Restaurant is a Greek restaurant and grocery in Kimball in McDowell County. The restaurant has been owned and operated since 2003 by Markella Gianato whose maternal grandfather John Genadopoulus and father Adamantios Tommy Balasis opened The West Virginia Grocery in the same location in 1947. Genadopolous bought the building from A.P. Wood, whose name still remains on the storefront. The Grocery shut down in 2001 after the July flood all but destroyed the building.Today the restaurant serves as a hub in the Kimball community. Menu offerings include gyros, Greek-style spaghetti and meatballs, spanakopita, Greek salad, pastitsio (a Greek pasta with meat and bchamel), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and saganaki (pan-seared Greek cheese).State folklorist Emily Hilliard interviewed Gianato about her family history, foodways, and the business on April 27, 2016, but the interview was lost when Folklife Program equipment was stolen. Gianatos Our History statement on the Yasou website:On February 7, 1947, the Greek-American families of John Genadopoulos and Adamantios Tommy Balasis and Mary Balasis purchased the A.P. Wood Grocery. Though the store was renamed the West Virginia Grocery, the name A.P. Wood remains etched in beautiful stained glass over the door at present day YaSou. From that time until the devasting flood of July 2001, the family kept the grocery in operation. Ten months later, a second major flood hit the town within days of the business being reopened. Despite this major setback, we were determined to move forward and reopen the business. Having my own restaurant was a lifelong dream, and on February 7, 2003, with the help of my mother Mary Balasis, my brothers John and Mathew, my husband Jimmy Joe, my son Adam, my mother-in-law Mary Verduce Gianato and the Grace of God, that dream became a reality with the opening of YaSou Restaurant. I am immensely proud of the success that I have achieved. I offer home-cooked meals, daily specials, and Greek cuisine along with many sandwich choices. Most of the recipes I have used have been handed down to me from my mother and grandmother. My love for the restaurant business came from my first job at the Virginian Restaurant in Pearisburg, Virginia, working under the guiding hands of, in my opinion, two of the greatest chefs, uncles and mentors, Mike and George Genadopoulos. It was my days at the Virginian that made me realize I would someday like to become a great chef. I strive for this every day. This has allowed me to meet many wonderful people who have stopped in along the way, as well as many local regulars who come in and make my day complete. We hope to serve you for many years to come. Everyone that comes here, even for one time, becomes a part of the labyrinth of my life and will always be part of the memories here. I want my guests to feel at home and comfortable when that are here. If you have any concerns or requests, please feel free to ask. ---MarkellaRead more on the Yasou website: https://yasourestaurant-restaurant.business.site/"]%

5. Yasou Greek Restaurant sign painted on the restaurant building, 2 of 2

Identifier:
4224.YasouRestaurant.Photo.010.4.14.16
Title:
Yasou Greek Restaurant sign painted on the restaurant building, 2 of 2
Date:
2016-04-14
Creator:
Hilliard, Emily
Subject:
foodways, Greek American restaurateurs, Restaurants--United States, Restaurants--Design and construction, Greek Americans, Food habits, Cooking, Greek, Painted signs and signboards, Greek American women
Location:
Kimball (W. Va.)