Have you ever experienced vertigo? It’s never happened to me until today. About an hour ago I walked into Acropolis Restaurant and literally took a step backwards thinking that I had mistakenly walked into the wrong building. The interior that I was familiar with was… gone. The diner-esque eatery had been transformed into a swank, dark wood bistro with window seating, cafe tables and a full length bar. It wasn’t until I saw Bob Petrik (owner of Mother Nature) sitting at a window seat that I was sure that I had walked into the right place.
Now I’ve listened to Paul Tsouflidis (photo: showcasing his Might Leaf tea selection) tell me for years about his big plans for Acropolis. After a while I forgot to ask how plans were coming. Then, out of the blue, I walk into a full gut job transformation complete with three flat screen TVs, red glass candle votives, ultra modern tea pots… and I’m told that an updated menu with healthy choices and kid-friendly selections, a rice pudding bar, a full bar featuring International beers (and music), black awnings and a glass facade with folding doors are all on the way. Even the outdated front vestibule is in the process of getting axed. Whoa!
As I began to come back down to reality, Paul waled up to tell me about the progress that he was still making. “We raised the ceiling two feet,” he pointed out. “And made the space energy efficient by removing the heating and cooling from up high and moving it into the basement so that the heat rises. We ramped it up in three weeks. The entire kitchen was removed and elevated into the back with open viewing from the dining room. That ‘raised the bar’ to keep the place as clean as possible. There are water efficient toilets with hand soap motion sensors and a Dyson Airblade has been installed in the women’s room. The restaurant now has all efficient LED lighting and the TVs will be showing March Madness and the World Cup, etc. We have fresh cut fries, WiFi and all the rest… for years our breakfast and lunch crowd has been solid. Now I want people to come here to enjoy the place at night. Just wait until the patio reopens with the folding doors!”
Check out this crazy renovation video by Antonello Parlato!
To top it off, Paul wanted me to express that all of the renovation work is being performed by longtime customers who have been coming to the restaurant for years (who also happen to be in the renovation business). Apparently nobody in the community knew that all of this was taking place right under their noses. This project was 100% stealth mode, and that’s the way Paul wanted it. I still can’t get over the overnight transformation… talk about keeping up with the Joneses.
Acropolis
708 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222-1602
(716) 886-2977
Here are the changes that are now being made to the exterior: