When Peter Skiadas began talking about buying Hank's Place from Hank Shupe, his wife, Voula Skiadas wasn't happy about the idea. She was comfortable with the two of them continuing running the Longwood Inn and wanted to stay in that comfort zone.
But the couple bought the eatery in 1991 and her attitude changed, quickly. "From the moment we bought it, I loved it," she said during a reception at the Chadds Ford Historical Society Friday night.
She added that she grew to know all the regulars. "We know what everyone eats. We cherish you all…We can’t say enough of the kindness and love the village has shown us."
The event — “Hank’s for the Memories” — was held to honor the Skiadases for all they've done for the community as a whole and the Historical Society in particular. Each January, they donated to the CFHS because they saw that as their way to give back to the Chadds Ford community.
The family sold the restaurant on Route 1 at Creek Road last month. Once the sale was announced, a buzz ran through the greater Chadds Ford area. Voula Skiadas told guests Friday that she began receiving phone call after phone call. "Will there still be pumpkins? Will there still be Christmas lights?"
And of course, there were questions about whether the staff would remain and whether the menu would stay the same or change.
New owners Anthony and Katie Young have assured people that everything will remain the same. Peter Skiadas said he was selective about who the next owner should be and chose the Youngs because they would keep those traditions alive.
He also thanked the community — and his wife who he referred to as "the pillar of Hank's success" — for the appreciation shown.
"It is with humility and joy that [we] accept this surprising and unexpected honor that is bestowed upon us here tonight," Peter Skiadas said. "Whatever we did for the Historical Society and the Chadds Ford community in the 26 years of Hank's Place ownership, was the result of our strong belief in the American spirit of volunteerism. We believed that good relations with people produce benefits that eventually flow back to our community…We believed that if you take a lot from your community, you should be more farsighted about putting something back into it."
He borrowed from St. Paul saying, "Our departure's at hand, have fought the good fight, have finished our course and have kept our faith."
As is fitting a man with a master's degree in classical studies and who taught the classics at Hellenic College in Massachusetts, Peter Skiadas borrowed from the ancient philosophers of his native Greece who said the future is always unpredictable.
And in looking ahead to retirement and the rest of his days, he said, "Now we are getting ready for the ultimate end of the human destiny."
Also during the evening, Kendal Reynolds, representing the Historical Society said it was an honor to have an event for the Skiadases. It's an honor to have you for all you've done.
Jim Leader, of Leader Sunoco, called them "wonderful neighbors and wonderful people who've done anything and everything the community has asked."
Also during the evening, Chadds Ford Township Supervisors' Vice Chairman Samantha Reiner read a proclamation noting the Skiadases efforts to "lovingly make Hank's Place a cornerstone where [quoting the Hank's Place motto] hungry people eat and friendly people meet."
Andrew Stewart, the director of development for the Brandywine Conservancy and River Museum of Art, presented Peter and Voula with a lifetime membership to the museum.
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