"Our parents had a restaurant on the Danforth for 16 years; we saw how happy they were and how much they liked their job, and I think that inspired us to become entrepreneurs as well," says Lambros Babatsikos. Witnessing from an early age how much their parents were appreciated in the neighbourhood and how everyone around seemed to know them, Lambros and his twin brother Frank, became fascinated with local entrepreneurship. Once adults, they decided they too would take the leap.
"For a while, we ran a café in Greece called Dock 10. When we came back to Toronto we found a vacant location and took the opportunity; it became 521 Café & Bar on September 9, 1999," he says. "It was exactly how we envisioned it. People immediately adopted the place, came here to hang out, have a good time with their friends, socialize."
Since its beginnings, 521 Café & Bar has evolved alongside the Danforth, constantly striving to stay relevant in an ever-changing city. "We renovated a few times, updated the place's look and feel so that our customers continue to enjoy the ambiance here," says Lambros.
