Page 14 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2026 - Online Magazine

HONORING
SMALL BUSINESSES

Uncle Pete’s

Legacy

Continues

Pete's Drive-In

by Chris Tzemos

my brother, Tom, me (Chris), and my mom, Kathy

My mom was quickly put to business because she is still the boss.
work at Pete’s. She had no formal Pete’s Drive-In has been kept in the
education. And although she family even after Uncle Pete died in
arrived at a young age from a 2007.
faraway country and very different
culture, she quickly learned to read It has been challenging work to
and write. She tells me she learned own and operate a family business,
math by cooking and selling but it has also been rewarding. My
hamburgers. After my mother mother has always enjoyed working,
was in the U.S. for four years, she especially cooking and serving food
met Deno Tzemos on a family trip for so many years. My Uncle Pete’s
back to Greece. A year later, they motto was to serve great food and
decided to get married. take good care of customers. We feel
Pete and Chris privileged to carry on his legacy.
Deno and Kathy came back to the My mother, my brother, and I will
U.S. and went back to work at operate and sell hamburgers at
his story begins with family
members who migrated to the Pete's Drive-In. Uncle Pete liked their Pete’s Drive-In for as long as we can,
TU.S. during the 1920s from work ethic so much that he decided it hopefully for many more years.
Greece. Pete Gotsis, my uncle, was was time for Deno and Kathy to lease
invited to the U.S. by John Zournas, and operate Pete’s Drive-In on their
his uncle. Pete worked for his uncle own. My parents had my brother
in the restaurant industry where Tom, me (Chris), and my sister
he washed so many dishes that Christena. Kathy was only 26 when
he vowed if he ever had his own she found herself with a family and
restaurant, it would only be takeout. a business to take care of.
My mother loved her new country
After serving in the U.S. Navy, Uncle
Pete did go on to establish his own so much that she decided to become
restaurant in the early 60s, a drive-up a U.S. citizen, which she did in
burger joint at our original location 1982. My mother has always been
and where we continue operation so proud of that accomplishment
today—529 34th. Uncle Pete operated and her citizenship. To this day,
Pete’s Drive-In for at least a decade she will tell you that America is the
before he invited my mom Kathy to land of opportunity and the best
the U.S. My mother agreed to the country to live in. My brother, my
trip and came to the U.S. at age 14 in mom, and I still operate the business
1971. today. Kathy has been there for 55
years, helping me and Tom run the

14 Lubbock Senior Link