More than a year after former T & G Gyros owner Chris Mallios died, the family-run eatery will continue serving its signature gyros, hot dogs, Philly steaks and Italian beef under new ownership.
T & G Gyros, at 13001 Western Ave., Blue Island, was in the Mallios family for 43 years before the recent sale, according to an announcement on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
“This journey has been nothing short of incredible, thanks to each of you who welcomed us into your lives, treated us like family and supported us through the decades,” the post reads.
“We are comforted knowing the restaurant will continue to operate and is in great hands with Santiago (Chico) and his family.”
Santiago Ambrosio Sr., who worked at the shop for 32 years, purchased the business in May along with his sons, Santiago Ambrosio Jr. and Esjar Ambrosio, Ambrosio Jr. said. The family poured their savings into the purchase with the goal of preserving the restaurant’s family-driven legacy and time-honored recipes, while adding a few fresh touches of their own, he said.
“Sometimes when somebody else buys the business and they change a lot, people don’t come back,” Ambrosio Jr. said. “But we’re planning on mostly keeping them the same. Maybe a little updates here and there. Maybe add some real Mexican food to the menu, but that’s about it.”
Ambrosio Jr. said they had originally planned to purchase the shop from Chris Mallios in 2024. However, after Mallios, 76, died March 29, 2024, they chose to wait until his family felt ready to sell.
Mallios owned T & G Gyros for 42 years, and built a lasting legacy in the community through the food he prepared almost every day, according to a Facebook post announcing his passing.
“You all became his family and we appreciate how much love you have had for him and the restaurant,” the post reads. “He was also a proud husband, father, grandfather (pappou), uncle, brother, son and friend. He was brave in his long fight with cancer and worked until the very end.”
More than 300 people took to Facebook to share their appreciation for Mallios, reminiscing about growing up with T & G Gyros in the early 1980s, trying it for the first time because of a spouse or friend, or grabbing lunch there during work breaks. Others shared memories of Mallios’ kindness toward their children and families, and reflected on how much the shop has meant to Blue Island over the years.
The gyro shop, open since 1981, serves a variety of gyros, Philly steaks, Italian subs, burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and a few Mexican options.
A photo shared on Facebook by the Blue Island Historical Society captures the shop’s early days, featuring a grand opening sign and another promoting two hot dogs and fries for just $1.59. At the time, the storefront lacked the now-familiar blue and white awning, instead featuring a large sign that jutted out from the corner of the building, displaying the shop’s name and signature offerings.
Ambrosio Jr. said the menu will stay mostly the same, with the exception of the Mexican items, which he plans to enhance by adding a few dishes and improving existing recipes to reflect more authentic Mexican flavors.
He said the Mexican offerings are the least popular on the menu. Some of the changes he is considering, though still in the early stages, include adding steak tacos served on corn tortillas. They have also added Jarritos, a fruit-flavored soft drink from Mexico, and bottled water, he said.
In Blue Island, 43.1% of the city’s population is Hispanic or Latino, according to census data. Ambrosio Jr. said there has been strong demand for more Mexican options, and while they plan to expand that part of the menu, they are rolling out the changes gradually, week by week.
The shop already has a steady stream of regulars, many of whom visit twice a week during lunch hours, along with children who often stop in before and after school, Ambrosio Jr. said. With this loyal customer base in place, he hopes to expand it by carefully introducing new menu items and observing how they are received, all while maintaining the original charm and the dishes that have remained customer favorites for decades.
“We feel that it is a staple here in Blue Island for the residents, and they like the food, they like the atmosphere,” Ambrosio Jr. said. “And we are planning on keeping it running as a family business.”
smoilanen@chicagotribune.com
