Becca and Ilias: “Our son George arrived with a full head of hair two weeks early and just a few days before Governor Beshear declared a State of Emergency in Kentucky. In the months leading up to his birth, we did all of the normal things to prepare. We moved into our new home that Becca designed, we took classes, we had baby showers, and we put George’s room together. Like all new parents-to-be we had a great many concerns but how to usher a newborn safely through a global pandemic was not among them.
As new parents and as small business owners, we’ve faced many challenges over the last few months, but prioritizing our responsibilities to George, to Ilias’ crew at the Athenian Grill, and to the community that has supported us so much over the last several years has kept us thinking positively and looking for opportunities to help.
We are finding creative ways to connect with family. Becca’s parents come for backyard visits, we take George to visit Ilias’ aunt on her porch, and we facetime with Ilias’ parents, brother, sister-in-law, and niece who are all at home in Greece.
Ilias has moved the Athenian Grill headquarters into our basement and is continuously reshaping the business to comply with guidelines and to keep as many people safely working as possible. He’s drawn on existing relationships with companies like Armark and he’s forged new partnerships with local organizations like Nourish Lexington and National Organizations like Feed America to help keep Kentuckians fed and to keep his crew working. And, of course, he is taking advantage of the extra time at home to make special memories with George.
Becca is working from home after maternity leave with Nomi Design, an architecture, design and fabrication firm in Lexington. She continues to provide creative design support to the Athenian Grill and is working with her father Dr. Steve on the product development of bCalm, a 3D-printed device to relieve panic attack and anxiety.
We want to thank the Lexington community, as well as our friends and family for all their support during this challenging time. We love you all!”