Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kathryn Gianaras. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kathryn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

To have created the most ideal environment for both our guests and our staff to feel welcomed and appreciated as long as NOVY is in business.

Kathryn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

NOVY is a Greek restaurant in the San Francisco Noe Valley district. We are a family-owned and woman-run business. NOVY is our nickname for Noe Valley. We’re a neighborhood restaurant serving Greek food alongside fresh California comfort food.

In 1977, John Gianaras purchased the L&F Corner Market and turned it into a casual dining restaurant named Panos’ (after his father.) In 1988, newlyweds John and Vi expanded and remodeled the space into a fine-dining Greek restaurant. They operated the ever-popular Panos’ for a total of 20 years. Flash-forward 17 years… the Gianaras family has reclaimed the space, with daughters Kristen and Kathryn running the show. This time around, NOVY offers Greek food and California classics in a more relaxed atmosphere. All of our beer & wine is on tap to do our part in eliminating waste. NOVY, our nickname for Noe Valley, is again a family-owned and woman-owned business that strives to provide a personal and delicious dining experience in a polished setting. Our mission is to create a warm and welcoming environment for both our guests and our staff at all times.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

I’ve been a Vistaprint customer for a long time and one day received an email from them inquiring about how we feel about Vistaprint in order to be considered to be featured in a commercial. I filled out the survey and then got a request to make a short video of myself talking about Vistaprint. Not being something that I’m good at, I did it anyway and submitted it. Not much longer after I received a call from a producer saying that they loved my video and I was one of the top few submissions. They confirmed with me that if I were to be selected that we were available to close on a certain day to shoot the commercial. That’s when I got excited. Shortly after I got a call that NOVY Restaurant was officially selected to shoot the Vistaprint commercial! We closed the restaurant for a day and started shooting at 7am. It was a long day of shooting but it was so much fun and even more exciting to see NOVY on TV all over the country! (At no cost to us!)

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I believe you have to treat everyone with the utmost respect at all times. We do our very best to always show and communicate our appreciation for every single employee. Our mission is for all of our staff to feel like family and at home when they are here working and always. Never ask someone to do something that you’re not willing to do yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.novysf.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novysf/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novysf4000
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/novyrestaurant
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/novy-restaurant-san-francisco-6

Image Credits
Mural by Alexander Tadlock