John Halikas, 80, of Oak Lawn, a South Side restaurateur who learned to cook aboard French civilian ships following his discharge from the Greek navy at the end of World War II, died of heart failure Thursday, Oct. 26 in Northwestern Memorial Hospital. For 20 years Mr. Halikas owned the Florence Coffee Shop inside the historic Florence Hotel in Pullman, where he was known for his kind treatment of long-term guests who were down on their luck, said his son, James. Even if his customers ran out of money, “my father was the kind of guy who fed them anyway,” his son said. “He was almost like a father to all of them.” Born in Greece, Mr. Halikas served in the Greek navy during World War II. Toward the end of the war he found work on passenger and freighter ships as a cook before he moved in 1947 to Chicago’s North Side, where some family members lived. Soon after marrying his wife, Dorothy, in 1949, he bought the Stratford Grill in the former Stratford Theater at 63rd and Halsted Streets. He bought the Florence Coffee Shop in 1955 and ran it until 1975. After moving to the Roseland neighborhood, where he and his wife raised their three sons, Mr. Halikas joined St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church and he remained a loyal member for the rest of his life, his son said. Whether it was giving away a free meal or raising money for the church, Mr. Halikas’ quiet generosity was apparent to those who knew him, his son said. In 1975, Mr. Halikas bought the Village Snack Shop in Evergreen Park and moved to Oak Lawn. He retired in 1985. Mr. Halikas also is survived by sons George and Thomas; and four grandchildren. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday with the funeral service at 10 a.m. at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, 12307 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights.
