the Milk & Honey story

Gus Stathos was born in Koumousta, Greece a small village outside of Sparta Greece in 1939. His family were farmers with fields of different crops and livestock.  As the children grew, so did the ambition for a better life. 

Gus studied in Sparta until high school and then moved to Athens for more opportunities and education.  In 1958, at the age of 19, Gus came to America arriving in Greer, SC where his brothers, father and uncle were already living. They had started their own businesses, a restaurant chain called Pete’s Drive-In. 

There were many Pete’s Drive–In restaurants in upstate SC.  Gus was involved with and became a partner in Pete’s Drive-In #7 (aka Pete’s #7).  They sold hamburgers, hot dogs and southern cooking with an open kitchen.  As the years progressed, Gus got married in 1968 to his wife Evagelia (Eva) Hartoularos. 

In 1972 on a trip to the beach, Gus and his brother Jimmy found a new restaurant located on the boulevard across from the pavilion: Twentieth Century Restaurant, where they then worked together.  Then, in 1978 they purchased a restaurant in Calabash, NC called Eastside Calabash Seafood Restaurant.  They worked both restaurants until 1980, when they then decided to open another restaurant in Calabash. 

On April 2nd, 1981 the brothers opened Tony’s Pizza, which is still in operation today.  As the years progressed the brothers worked the two businesses until Jimmy decided to retire and sale his stake in the restaurants.  Gus bought the rest of Tony’s Pizza and his son George purchased half of Eastside Restaurant. Gus now owned Tony's pizza and half of Eastside.  Gus and George decided to take a different direction in Calabash other than seafood, so they opened George’s Pancake House on April 16th, 2007.  George ran the pancake house with help from his wife Zhanna.  Later, George’s brother in law, Yura, joined the businesses.   

On June 26th, 2018 there was a massive fire in George’s Pancake House which destroyed the building.  The following years were spent redefining menus, redoing kitchens and all the exciting things that are part of the  rebuilding process.  Every opportunity was used to better the new construction and menu.  The family would travel and study what was new and innovative in design and chef-curated menu items.  There were trips to Greece, Atlanta, Charleston, New York, Baltimore and Charlotte, to name a few. 

After all the years of experience, trials, rebuilding, travels and more, MILK AND HONEY was created! So from a small village in Greece all they way to Calabash, NC, we opened our newest business.  Welcome to Milk and Honey, enjoy!