Chuck Chronis was trying to refuse payment from another customer at Chronis’ Restaurant & Lounge a few years ago, but one woman in her 80s wouldn’t let up.
“Mr. Chronis, I’ve been coming here on Thanksgiving for 10 years, and I told myself that this year I’m going to pay,” she said. “I live in a one-bedroom apartment, and saved up as much as I could to give you, and you’re going to take it.”
Chronis reluctantly accepted the money and asked in return that she call him Chuck, which she refused to do. Chronis, 76, settled for a hug.
“It was the hardest two dollars I’ve ever made,” Chronis said.
That interaction, and countless other similar ones, are why Chronis and his wife, Sandy, held on to their restaurant, and held on probably a year or two longer than they should have.
However, after operating the restaurant — which has had multiple locations — since 1968, the Chronises have retired. Friday was the last day their restaurant was open.
“It’s been a long ride,” said Sandy Chronis, 71.
The Chronises decided to finally retire due to some health issues. Chuck Chronis has had two heart attacks, two strokes and two foot surgeries. Sandy Chronis fell at a fundraising car wash and broke her hip about a year and a half ago.
“We’re going to take six months or so and just try to get back our health,” Chuck Chronis said, adding they have an RV they used to take to the Washington and Oregon coasts, but haven’t been able to use it for nine months due to his foot.
As for the location at the corner of Main and Ninth streets, no new tenant is scheduled to take it over just yet. The landlord, Dean Irvin of HG Industries in Vancouver, said he thinks a new tenant could be lined up within the next 30 days.
“Our hope is that it’s a similar venue, another restaurant, that moves in,” Irvin said. “Obviously, we wish Chuck was just staying. He’s an institution.”
One tradition at Chronis’ was a free Thanksgiving feast, which started back in 1982 as a collaboration between the Chronises and their friend Rich Melnick, now a judge with the state Court of Appeals. Melnick said that first year, they cooked 40 or 50 meals. The event has grown considerably, with the restaurant serving more than 1,000 meals in past years, including one where Melnick said they cooked 89 turkeys.
It wasn’t just the food that was popular at Chronis’ on Thanksgiving. The volunteer slots were also hot commodities. George Wick of Vancouver said he applied for years for a volunteer position, but didn’t get selected until two years ago.
“It’s almost like someone has to die for a spot to open up,” he said.
It was at Chronis’ where Wick met his girlfriend, Sherry Lowe. The two were friends for a while before starting to date more than two years ago. Lowe said she has been going to Chronis’ for about 10 years, including weekly trips with co-workers.
“It’s like our ‘Cheers,’ ” she said. “It’s a meeting place.”
While many will miss the social element of Chronis’, plenty others will miss Sandy and Chuck’s giving spirit. In addition to Thanksgiving, the Chronises and Melnick started opening the restaurant for free meals on Christmas Day in 1998.
They had taken that year’s Thanksgiving off to spend with their families.
“That night, I called Melnick and told him I felt like a damned fool,” Chuck Chronis said. “I felt ashamed.”
Even without a restaurant, both Chuck Chronis and Melnick said they’ve already started discussing how to serve free Thanksgiving meals this year.
“I’ve made some calls already, and we’re going to do our best to keep the tradition alive,” Melnick said. “Nobody should be hungry on Thanksgiving.”
While Melnick said he thinks the Chronises are leaving for the right reasons, he’s sad to see them retire.
“The community needs people like Chuck and Sandy,” he said. “They’re great friends, and they’re caring and give back. They’re great citizens.”
While they might be giving up the restaurant, don’t expect the Chronises to leave Vancouver.
“I’ll never leave the area,” Chuck Chronis said. “I’ve got friends telling me to move to Arizona or move there, but it’s absolutely beautiful here. Just go take a ride around the Gorge, and if you find anything prettier than that, you tell me where.”
