Our Story

At the young age of 19, John Varavvas found his true passion.. cooking. A Cyprus native, John was living in Africa as a game hunter and working in a restaurant in the evenings where he learned to cook. In 1926 he came over to America from Cyprus and heard about a Greek chef at Republic Steel that might give him a job. He got the job at Republic in their cafeteria and also worked at a grocery store in the evenings that he lived above. When the owner of the grocery store passed away he bought the store. In 1932 John opened up a second grocery store in Canton, John’s Market, and in 1940 a third was opened at the present location of 2749 Cleveland Avenue.  

With such a love for cooking, John decided to follow his heart and open a restaurant. He turned over the grocery store to his nephew Leo which became Leo’s Market and in 1945 “John’s Restaurant” was opened. Serving mostly Greek food, the restaurant sat just 48 people and ran with 3 employees. The original restaurant was where the bar room is today. 

John’s family lived above the restaurant and his son Tony loved helping out. He would come and help out his father every day after school. In 1950 Tony entered Kent State University to pursue a degree but after just 3 short months his father John fell ill. Tony dropped out of school to come home and take over the restaurant at the young age of 19. In 1953 John’s started serving beer and wine. The lunch counter was taken out, the bar was put in and John’s Restaurant became John’s Bar and Grille.  

In 1960 Tony took over the adjacent store room and expanded the restaurant to where the main dining room is today. Business was booming and a bigger kitchen was also needed so the second kitchen was built. John’s was now famous for their coneys and burgers. Chopped sirloin and grilled ham sandwiches were also a favorite of this time. Tony’s son John, named after his grandfather, also grew up in the restaurant helping whenever he could and working after school. After graduating at Miami University, John came home to enter the family business as the third generation.

 In the early eighties the third room was added, known as the garden room. John’s was packing in the crowds and the yet another larger kitchen was needed. The kitchen was moved to where it is today. The restaurant went from 48 seats originally to the current 208 seating capacity and went from the original 3 employees to over 80 employees. The menu continued to grow as well and John’s became known for steaks, chops and seafood..

Like father and grandfather, John’s two daughters also grew up helping out at the restaurant. His oldest daughter Ana after graduating college, knew she wanted nothing more than to carry on the great tradition of the two men she looked up to. Today you will find the third and fourth generations of Varavvas’ working side by side. Father & Daughter.

After 76 years of being in the original location on Cleveland Avenue, John's was blessed with the opportunity to move to a new location in booming Oakwood Square.  With the effects of Covid on the restaurant industry and the increasing desire for outside dining the new location ended up being the perfect spot to continue on.  Now John's has a smaller but more efficient dining area and a great patio overlooking the new Plain Township Amphitheater. 

After over 30 years of cooking up John's famous breakfasts, John decided to take a little step back and just enjoy the restaurant he worked so hard at running since he was just a young man.  John's no longer serves breakfast for the time being but that gives him a little more to enjoy making his homemade soups and daily specials.  Ana is there managing the place along with her husband Nick and long time, loyal employees Matt & Bobby.  You'll find the 5th generation, Savanna & Stella there starting to help out or just eating snacks in a booth!

For the 79 years John’s has been in business much remains the same, the four generations have been dedicated to the John’s tradition of serving excellent food with the finest service. We strive to keep John’s one of Stark County’s finest traditions and your neighborhood gathering place.