Gypsy Road Trip

The influence of parents makes a big difference in our lives. Manny Theodosopoulos is a perfect example of that. He’s a man of many talents that were developed through the examples of his parents.

As a youngster, he liked to hang out in the workshop of his dad, who was a chemical engineer before leaving the corporate world to buy Coney Island. In his dad’s workshop, Manny enjoyed building things. The first thing he remembers building by himself from wood was the stand for a telescope, which he had received as a gift. This was a time when he also enjoyed sketching and drawing comics.

At the same time, Manny worked at Coney Island with his parents. His first job there in second grade was bagging french fries for $.50 an hour. Today that popular Coney Island is now called Theo’s, one of the favorite dining places in the area. In fact, Manny says, “I’ve been working here for 50 years. Everyone in the family is a good cook but Dad was the best cook of all.” His sister went to culinary school in Paris and works at an upscale restaurant in Phoenix. His brothers Steve and Alex have popular local restaurants, Theo’s and The Forum.

After graduating from Cambridge High School, Manny went to Miami University where he majored in accounting and finance. His dad told him, “If you want to run a business, you have to know the numbers.” For over eight years, Manny was the owner/operator of Becky Thatcher Restaurant in Marietta.

He recalls making cabinets, tables, and shelves over the years. For Manny, building these things is “fun” and relaxing. The things he builds are usually for himself or gifts for friends.

At home, Manny has constructed a large bookshelf that contains over 1,000 volumes of books he has collected, many of them concerning art but he also likes great literature. The bookcase is made from pipes and the top shelf contains a man, woman, and dog all formed from pipes.

Traveling the back roads of Ohio is something he enjoys for relaxation. No GPS for Manny! He likes the county maps that have all the backroads on them. These he places on a wall in his living room, which is beginning to look like an outline of the state of Ohio.

It’s only natural that he also enjoys cooking but he doesn’t do much of that at Theo’s, where he is general manager. At home he likes to create special items. Often he bakes cakes and cookies but recently he has been experimenting with different twists on peanut butter making cashew butter and almond butter, for example.

Always active in the community, Manny made a unique lamp using his ironwork for the Living Word auction one year. The lights were made from Cambridge Dairy bottles and the switch was an old water knob. He also has “fun” making lamps with a liquor bottle for their base and perhaps a cheese grater attached.

Today several of his artistic touches can be seen on the walls at Theo’s, the former Coney Island. Some of the signs are ‘ironwork’ with twisted pipes and connections. Since another hobby of his is photography, there are also local photos he has taken and placed on canvas. Manny returned to the family business in 2005 and as the general manager of Theo’s, he always greets customers with a friendly word.

Manny takes pride in his ironwork and his restaurant work. He likes for everyone to work together to do the best job possible while sharing in the credit. “People will exceed expectations given the proper tools and training.”

Next time you stop in Theo’s for a delicious meal, look carefully at the walls to see what Manny has created. He’s likely to stop by your table and say “Hi.” Save room for a piece of their famous pie or delicious cheesecake.

Visit Theo’s Restaurant in downtown Cambridge, Ohio at 632 Wheeling Avenue. The restaurant began in 1931 as Coney Island and still carries on the tradition of homecooked meals at a fair price and friendly service. Always save room for dessert as their pies are a specialty. Be sure to check out the walls for Manny’s many artistic displays.