 Gina Catalano was born and raised in Southern California. Argyrios (Artie) Kokkas meet Gina in 1999 in Cypress, CA. Artie had just moved to California from Brunswick, Ohio. He moved to CA to start living his dream and following his heart of both owning a restaurant and helping children.
Artie and Gina worked side by side in California and became best friends, over the years Gina and Artie grew inseparable of one another. They both share the same zest for life, passion to help children and dedication for having a successful family operated restaurant. With the same long term goals and love for one another Artie and Gina work as one and became an unstoppable duo and decided to dedicate the rest of their lives together and tie the knot.
On May 26th 2007 they got married at The Greek Orthodox Church of Long Beach, CA. On Monday May 28th – June 6th 2007 they enjoyed their honeymoon in Maui. Getting right back to life, 1 day later they packed all their stuff, drove 3 days across country, unpacked and opened ‘The Grille’ June 13th, 2007.
Now, returning to Brunswick and they are on a mission—or two.
Artie and his wife, Gina owners of The Grille, not only want to make their restaurant and bar the place to hang out, but they hope to parlay their profits to establish a group home for troubled youth & help the community with their Dine-Out To Help-Out Program.
“Artie has a gift for healing kids,” Gina explains.
A graduate of The Hellenic Holy Cross School Of Theology & Brunswick High School, Artie is looking to turn around lives and to turn around a bar and restaurant that has gone through a large menu full of owners over the years.
“We’re here to stay,” Gina promises. “We’re not going anywhere.” Artie and Gina opened The Grille—most recently known as Johnny’s—in June, 2007 after running a successful chain of sub and pizza shops in Orange County, California.
In California Artie and Gina turned their four-store SubNation chain into a non-profit organization so proceeds could support their Parental Guidance Group Homes for teens. PG Homes provided homes for youth who were released from foster homes and into the world when they turned 18 years old. The program worked with local orphanages and provided a safe home with a training program where the kids could learn job and living skills.
“It wasn’t our program,” Artie insists. “It was the community’s program. The whole town was behind us. We had fire fighters, police officers and local teachers volunteering their time to help. Local businesses helped too. Everybody was involved.”
SubNation was known for holding holiday meals for kids and disadvantaged families. Unfortunately, he says, the state of California stopped funding group homes and Artie had to close PG Homes. So he and Gina decided to return to Artie’s hometown where they plan to resume their work with kids.
“I originally was going to be a priest,” reveals Artie, who once was a House Manager of therapeutic group homes for the Parmadale Residential Treatment Center, in Parma, OH among other similar work on the East Coast. “Working with kids is what I’m best at.” Artie and Gina envision a group home in a country setting in Medina County, where kids can escape their troubled environment. “We want to take the kids out of their bad situation and give them a positive, healthy atmosphere,” Artie says. “That’s what we looked to do in California.”
Currently, Artie and Gina have designed a new program to help local schools, church’s and groups who need funding through the Dine-Out To Help-Out Program. The Dine-Out To Help-Out Program donates 5% of your entire organizations bill for a specific date and time. For Example: The Grille will donate 5% of all ‘ABC Elementary’ patrons purchases made on Monday Jan 1st.
Like Southern California, The Grille is always hot. They are serving delicious food and cocktails all year round. Featuring the largest deck, cabana bar and outdoor stone brick grille in Medina. The Grille offers volleyball, basketball and cornhole. They also have daily specials, weekly events and parties catering to all your needs. Even in the winter, the heated outdoor smoker-friendly patio will be open, with televisions.
“We had a great first summer,” Gina says. “The community has been very supportive". We want to be a Cheers kind of place, where everybody knows each other and Artie and I can hang out with our customers. And although it is a bar, and it is a lot of fun, Artie insists that The Grille stay family-friendly. The Grille sits on 4 acres of grassy land, has 10 corn-hole seats and a professional sand volleyball court and basketball quart for you to have fun times. “Trouble is definitely not welcome,” he warns. “If you use profanity or fight in here you will be asked to leave. We expect respectful behavior.” Healthy appetites, however, are very welcome.
“Everything we serve is homemade,” Gina says. “You will wait a little longer than you do at a chain restaurant because we’re not nuking pre-prepared food in the microwave or dropping it in the fryer. But it will be worth the wait.” Plus we pride ourselves on exceptional and personal customer service.
The Grille’s menu includes a “Hot Off The Grille Menu” flaming cheese, gourmet appetizers, pork ribs, hand-cut rib-eye steak and chicken. They serve delectable pastas and seafood dishes and have a wide variety of California gourmet style salads, oven baked subs and fresh one of a kind pizzas.
Their family is known for its homemade pizza—they own 15 shops in Boston and Cape Cod. But save the trip. Now you can get it right here in Brunswick. “Our dough is made fresh every day,” Artie promises.
Artie and Gina invite you, your family and friends to enjoy delicious food, a great atmosphere and a memorable evening. They can’t wait to meet you…
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