Our History

In 1905, Peter Mallios, a 13 year old boy from Arcadia, Greece, headed for America.  Knowing no English and having no chaperone to greet him in New York, he was not permitted to leave the ship and was returned to Greece.  Back in Greece but undeterred, he boarded the next ship headed for America. This time, on arrival, he yelled “Uncle! Uncle!” at the first man he saw, ran off the ship and disappeared into the crowd.

Many years later, Peter, now a World War I Veteran and self educated successful restauranteur, met the lovely, young Helen Doukas in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.

Helen Doukas came to American from Sparta, Greece, on September 15, 1921, at the age of 17. Helen was detained at Ellis Island for over a month waiting for her Uncle to escort her to Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, where she would care for his children and teach them to speak Greek.

Before 1939, this restaurant was actually a pharmacy.  The pharmacy moved to the old Westminster Hotel (now what is on the location where the old hotel was), and a luncheonette named Trio was born, named for the three partners. In 1950, “Mr. Pete” and his wife Helen bough Trio Restaurant with a partner, who has since passed away. “Rita”, Dimitri and George all worked their way through college while working there.

In 1960, Rita’s husband, Gus Lada (a restaurant man from Chicago), became a partner in the thriving Trio. Dimitri returned from the Army to pursue a successful career as an attorney representing local and national restaurants. George returned from the Navy to become a partner in the business. The business expanded to include the Fox and Hounds Lounge in 1967, Trio Pizza Shop in 1973, and the sidewalk cafes in 1975 (among the first in Washington, DC). Mr. Pete retired from the business in 1975 and Gus retired from the business in 1985.  George now owns and operates the restaurant his father started.

Mr. Pete passed away in 1978.  But Wednesdays, “Mrs. Pete” (now in her nineties) still has lunch at the Trio with family and friends.  Tell her you enjoyed the story of her family when you see her!