Spartan Gyros opens on Richmond Road

Nov. 23--Fast-casual Greek restaurant Spartan Gyros is now serving up gyros, hamburgers, salads and more after opening in Williamsburg late last week.

The restaurant at 1347 Richmond Road opened on Nov. 16, according to co-owners Thano and Anastasia Stratigakos. The 1,700-square-foot spot seats 40 customers and offers drive-thru service.

The owners said the restaurant has been consistently busy, with area residents eager to try it out. Both Thano and Anastasia come from Greek families they said, and are fulfilling a lifelong dream of owning their own restaurant.

"Growing up, my godmother's family owned a bunch of restaurant businesses in Williamsburg, and that's where I started to get the idea of wanting to do that in the future," Thano said. "I started working at restaurants when I was 16, and after that, my dad and I had talked about it, and it was always our dream to do that together."

Thano said the restaurant's authentic Greek fare helps it stand out from other popular fast food offerings in the area.

"The idea behind the restaurant is just giving an alternative to fast food," he said. "You have your Chipotles, your McDonalds, your Burger Kings, but you don't really have anything like that for Greek-inspired food."

Spartan Gyros set up shop at the site of the former Dunkin' Donuts on Richmond Road, which moved a few blocks down the street last year, according to a past Virginia Gazette report. The restaurant is staffed by four employees, but the owners said they are still actively hiring staff.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, but the owners said that schedule is subject to change. Spartan Gyros is closed Sundays.

For more information, call Spartan Gyros at 757-220-5410.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in New Town every weekend in December before Christmas.

Courtesy of Waters & Bridgman Marketing Solutions

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in New Town every weekend in December before Christmas.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in New Town every weekend in December before Christmas. (Courtesy of Waters & Bridgman Marketing Solutions)

Young families and their children are invited to visit SantaLand at the New Town Shops on Main starting Dec. 1, where they'll be able to enjoy warm winter treats, watch performances, and of course, meet Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

SantaLand will be located across from JOANN Fabrics, according to a news release.

Shoppers can visit Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 to Dec. 23. SantaLand Saturdays will take place on Dec. 1, 8 and 15, and will feature a variety of live shows and other holiday fun.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 1, visitors can enjoy hot cocoa with Santa and a pet parade starting at 1 p.m. Area residents are invited to dress their pets up for the holidays. Prizes will be awarded for the best pet ugly sweater, best pet/human ugly sweater pair and the most festive pet apparel.

For a full list of SantaLand activities, visit newtownshops.com/holiday2018.

Shelly Braden joined Cornerstone Wealth as a financial planning services coordinator last month.

Courtesy of Cornerstone Wealth

Shelly Braden joined Cornerstone Wealth as a financial planning services coordinator last month.

Shelly Braden joined Cornerstone Wealth as a financial planning services coordinator last month. (Courtesy of Cornerstone Wealth)

Cornerstone Wealth, a James City County-based financial advisory firm, has announced that Shelly Braden has joined its team as a finance professional.

Braden holds a master's degree in financial planning and taxation with a concentration in estate planning from Golden Gate University and studied business management at Belmont Abbey College, according to a news release.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Braden worked as a wealth advisor at PBMares Wealth Management in Newport News, according to the release. Before moving to the area, she also worked at a Los Angeles-based investment advising firm called KLS Professional Advisors Group.

She joined Cornerstone Wealth last month as its financial planning services coordinator, according to the release, where she works with colleagues to build and maintain plans for the financial future of their clients.

"We're pleased to welcome Shelly Braden and her expertise to Cornerstone Wealth," said Stuart Honenberger, CFP, wealth advisor at Cornerstone Wealth in the release. "Shelly's passion for and knowledge of the financial planning process further enhances the customized planning each one of our clients receives as they plan for their futures."

For more information about Cornerstone Wealth, call 757-645-2485 or visit CornerstoneWealthVA.com.

Arriaza can be reached at 757-790-9313 or on Twitter @rodrigoarriaza0.

___

(c)2018 The Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg, Va.)

Visit The Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg, Va.) at www.vagazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.