Our Story

The Breakfast Company was founded in the summer of 2020 by mother-and-son team Terri Syros-King and Dimitri Syros, but our story begins decades earlier with Greek immigrants who came to America with determination, a strong work ethic, and a dream.

Terri's father, George Soublis, settled in Philadelphia in the 1960s and built his life in the restaurant business, serving pizza and cheesesteaks and later operating a 24-hour diner. George eventually "retired" to Sarasota, but anyone who knows restaurant people knows you can't keep them out of the kitchen for long. In 1990, he opened El Greco Cafe in downtown Sarasota, where he worked the window, made pizzas by hand, and created the warm family atmosphere that became his trademark. For Dimitri, restaurants were part of growing up. His earliest memories include stopping by his grandfather's kitchen window, eating at his dad's restaurant, and being surrounded by the energy of food, guests, and family. The restaurants were the hub of their family.
But like many children and grandchildren of immigrants, Dimitri was encouraged to choose an easier path: "Go to school. Get your degree. Don't do this hard work." So he went to college, became a public school teacher, and eventually attended law school. Then came 2020. During the pandemic, both of Dimitri's grandfathers passed away within months of each other. While home during lockdown, Dimitri and Terri rediscovered George's old recipe book, handwritten in Greek with measurements like "a giant spoonful." They began cooking together, reminiscing, and sharing stories. They realized this family tradition wasn't ready to end.

When a restaurant location became available, Dimitri negotiated the lease between law school classes while Terri and her husband, Troy King, helped bring the vision to life. Together, the family rebuilt the space and opened the first Breakfast Company in Bradenton in October 2020. Today, we're proud to carry that legacy forward through good food, warm hospitality, hard work, and family, and to share it with everyone who walks through our doors.