Less than a week after Lola, Christo and Spiro Nousiadis opened Niko’s Bakery and Cafe in Wesleyan Park Plaza, local artist Aaron Kizer and Mayor Tom Watson gifted the family with something very special. The two presented the family with an original painting by Kizer of Niko, Lola’s husband and Christo and Spiro’s father, who died unexpectedly on April 23, 2016.
Watson and Niko were friends for many years, meeting at the restaurant and becoming acquainted outside of it, and Christo has become close with Watson as well. Christo said that it didn’t take this gift to know Watson’s support, saying that it just goes to show what Watson does to support the people of this community.
“Tom is a great friend who cares about the community and knows this gift would mean so much to us to have my dad there [at the new location,]” Christo said.
Another portrait of Niko, also painted by Kizer, hangs at Niko’s on Highway 54; however, the two paintings are quite different.
“Having him on the wall, especially for the family, is a way to push us every day,” Christo said, emphasizing what his father put into the business and what he did for the family and business.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the family posed for a photo with a statement that said, “Today we received one of the most meaningful gifts a family can receive.”
