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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
This week I am talking about Greek-owned businesses, and I can't think of a better way to kick off the series than by highlighting a business that showcases one of the things the Greeks do best — cook delicious cuisine.
Jim Fuskandrakis, owner of Jim's Family Restaurant, is living proof that with hard work, a little ingenuity and good business sense, anyone can become a successful business owner. Jim immigrated to Canada from Greece when he was a teenager. He didn't speak English or have any money. However, he was involved with starting a pizza and pasta restaurant that was so well received that it grew to 42 locations across Canada. In 1978, Jim sold that chain and moved to Utah.
The restaurant bug bit him again, and he decided to start another eatery, Jim's Family Restaurant. The business offers a variety of delectable items made from scratch for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes everything from ham and eggs to hamburgers and steaks to traditional Greek pastas and dishes. Jim's Breakfast, which includes homestyle potatoes covered with Swiss and American cheese, a choice of three types of meat and eggs cooked to order, is one of the eatery's signature items. Daily specials, including prime rib on Friday and Saturday nights, are also top sellers.
The original location of Jim's Family Restaurant was in West Valley City. In 1995, Jim's son Michael opened a second restaurant in Taylorsville. The venture worked out so well that in the early part of this decade, Jim and Michael branched out even more to open a total of eight locations, with two more under negotiation.
Jim's Family Restaurant has always been a family-owned and operated business. Even with multiple locations, the Fuskandrakis family continues to be involved on a daily basis. Michael says his family has worked hard to provide customers with a variety of tasty items for a great value, along with a menu that is updated constantly to reflect changes in consumer eating habits.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
