Block Party Honoring Tom’s Owner Gus Vlahavas Saturday

Gus Vlahavas, the man who was the face of the Prospect Heights iconic diner  for 62 years is moving to Colorado.

To give him a proper send-off, there will be a block party for him in front of the restaurant tomorrow morning.

Organized by City Councilwoman Letitia James, the event will include performances by Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band and children musicians from the Noel Pointer Foundation. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is also expected to attend.

“I've known Tom's Restaurant and have been friends with Gus a long time now, and I remember fondly the many egg creams and lime Rickeys over the years, as we discussed everything from politics to poetry," said James via e-mail.

Vlahavas' "generosity of spirit ... warm smile, voice, sparkle in his eyes, love of people and the community, and appreciation for food, family and friends will be missed, but Gus' legacy is everlasting," she added.   

Reached at Tom’s, which he still visits just about every day even though he officially retired several years ago, Vlahavas said he couldn’t much comment on tomorrow’s event because “it’s supposed to be a surprise.” But, he said, “if it’s something to do with the store and the people I’ve lived with” in the community, he’ll be pleased.

“It’s a wonderful thing, we’re very happy for him,” said Jimmy Kokotas, Vlahavas’ nephew, who now runs the restaurant.

Vlahavas and his wife, Nonie, will move in mid-July to Colorado Springs to be closer to his son, Sammy, and his family, who already live there as well as his other two children, Thomas and Beth, and their families, who plan to move there.

The iconic diner opened in 1936 as Lewnes, an ice cream parlor. It was taken over by the Vlahavas family during the 1940s. The restaurant soon evolved into a luncheonette and was renamed Tom’s in 1945 when Gus’ father, Tom, returned from the Philippines after WWII, Kokotas said.

Despite popular belief, Tom’s is not the subject of Suzanne Vega’s famous song “Tom’s Diner.” That was written about the diner on the corner Broadway and 112th Street, of “Seinfeld” fame, Vlahavas said.

But, because so many fans of the Tom’s in Prospect Heights have asked Vega about it over the years, a few years ago she came to our Tom’s for an interview.

“She told me that we took better care of her here then they did uptown,” Vlahavas said.

Our local Tom’s, however, does have the distinction of being the inspiration for the Greek diner in Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel “Middlesex,” Vlahavas confirmed.

Vlahavas said he’s “not happy” about leaving Prospect Heights. But, he said, “My children are going that way, and I have to be with my children and my grandchildren. But I don’t ever expect to sever my ties with Prospect Heights.”

“I’ll miss my friends, I’ll miss the customers, I’ll miss the area,” he said, remembering fondly that during the 1968 riots, his neighbors, black and white, stood “hand-in-hand outside the store” to protect it from looting.

“It’s a little difficult to break the umbilical cord,” he added.  “It’s a different the course. … But we’ll adjust.”

Check back next week for a look back at Gus Vlahavas's years as the face of Tom's.

The celebration will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m., in front of Tom’s, 782 Washington Ave. at Sterling Place.