Big Skillet Restaurant's George Arsoniades speaks to Elgin Golden K Kiwanis

George Arsoniades of Big Skillet Restaurant and Pancake House in Elgin visited the May 3 meeting of the Elgin Golden K Kiwanis.

He gave a fascinating account of how he arrived from Greece in 1965 at 12½ years old and was placed in first grade at Lincoln Grade School in Elgin because he was still earning English.

He passed all elementary grades because could read the book about Dick, Jane, and their dog Spot. He eventually attended Larsen Junior High and Elgin High School.

First employed at 15 years old at Paragon Fruit & Produce shop for 75 cents per hour, he was hired away by Louie Sotos for a dollar an hour to work for the old Elgin location of Blue Moon, where he was a busser.

That started his 37-year career in the Elgin restaurant scene.

Part of a Greek family of 55, which owns 17 restaurants today, his Big Skillet Restaurant offers a full menu and is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except Sunday after 2p.m., when his wife Irene keeps him home to rest and take her out to dinner).

The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis Club meets at 9 a.m. Wednesdays in the basement of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 357 Division St. in Elgin. Learn more at www.elgingoldenk.org.