Photograph courtesy of the Vlamis family

The late George Vlamis poses with members of Los Gatos' Park Cafe baseball team: front row, an unknown and Justin Miller; second row, Walt Emley, Vlamis, John Kimball, Colt Kimball and Bill Lyndon; back row, Bill Sporleder, unknown, Dave Downs, Kenny Gray and a young man named Gibb.

Picture from the Past

George Vlamis and family left marks on town in many ways

Baseball was always close to the heart of restaurateur

By John S. Baggerly

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, baseball, boxing and bars occupied the life of longtime Los Gatan George Vlamis, who died Aug. 10 at age 88. Family and friends gathered Aug. 22 for memorial services and later for fellowship at the Vlamis home on Almendra Avenue.

Born in Leonidio, Greece, George settled in New York City as a young man, where he played high school baseball with Hank Greenberg, a longtime major leaguer. While a youngster, George became a turnstile attendant at Yankee Stadium.

His father, Emanuel, and family later followed the footsteps of Emanuel's brother, Louie Vlamis, who established Park Cafe on the east side of N. Santa Cruz Avenue two doors from W. Main Street. Emanuel then opened Los Gatos Grill, two or three doors south of today's Los Gatos Cinema.

Doug Helm, former coach of all sports at Los Gatos High School, once sized up George, a frequent attendee at baseball games, as a potential umpire. Rival baseball coaches commented that the Los Gatos ump was no "homer"--which means an umpire who shades calls in favor of the home team.

When Jimmy Londos, a world champion wrestler, visited Los Gatos, he announced that his friend Louie Vlamis could always beat him back in New York City. True or not, Louie did pin the strong man when a carnival came to town and tented up at the northeast corner of N. Santa Cruz Avenue and Royce Street. The carnival did not mind its "star" strong man being defeated--the tent was always sold out when Louie Vlamis wrestled.

During the 1930s and '40s, George fulfilled his love of boxing when he was asked to write a weekly report on the bouts at the San Jose Civic Auditorium for what was then the Los Gatos Mail-News.

In 1973, George sacrificed the right side of his restaurant to open Club Gato, a snug bar he managed and eventually sold to enterprising local boy John Mesa, who presently is owner and operator of Johnny's Northside Grill.

Later, George became manager and bartender of the Bascom Lounge and Double Vision--two establishments on Los Gatos Boulevard not far from Community Hospital of Los Gatos.

Retired and living on Almendra Avenue, George found it convenient to "go to work" with his son Steve at the Orchard City Locksmith Shop that the pair ran in Campbell. George found the shop a comfortable place to read the daily newspapers--including the sports pages, no doubt. Steve Vlamis continues to run the locksmith business, minus his father.

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