Our Family Goes Way Back in
Restaurants & Insurance

The proud man standing in front of his restaurant is my grandfather, John Trenton. (Yiannis Trentos). He and his two brothers arrived in Toronto from Greece in the 1920’s, not knowing a word of English. Their first jobs were as dishwashers in restaurants on Queen and Bloor Streets in Toronto, Ontario. They scrimped and saved as dishwashers so that they could become their own boss.

They had to convince a landlord to rent them a space. After looking at a number of places, they finally found a nice spot at 2572 Yonge Street in Toronto to open their restaurant, which became the Trenton Grill.

The brothers lived above the restaurant, and eventually were joined by their wives and children born in Greece. The three brothers faced hardship and bills galore. But they stuck together, and worked hard, and willed themselves into becoming a success.

Eventually after several years of serving good food in a friendly way, they found a manager at the Bank of Nova Scotia who believed in the brothers. He gave them a mortgage to buy their landlord’s building and realize their Canadian Dream.

Our grandparents, mom, dad, uncles, aunts, cousins’, sisters-we all worked in restaurants. We’re proud to say that growing up we prepped, cooked, washed dishes, mopped floors, bussed tables and served customers. We understand your challenges because we’ve grown up in the restaurant and catering business.

This is a photograph of my father, Louis Yankou and two of the waitresses in front of his Students Coffee Shop on the University of Toronto Campus in the 1950’s.

He and my mom, Christine Yankou (Trenton) in addition to running a restaurant also sold potato salad wholesale to Shopsy’s Delicatessen on Spadina.

My Dad eventually founded Louis A Yankou Real Estate and Insurance in 1964.

Christine Yankou, left (nee Trenton) standing in next to my Uncle Norman and Aunt Helen at the Trenton Grill on Yonge Street. Christine was dutiful daughter working as a waitress for our grandfather John Trenton. My Mom came from Greece when she was 14 years old, not speaking a word of English. She encouraged my Dad to be in the first wave of Greek Immigrants to move their business to Danforth Avenue. They changed the name to Yorktown Real Estate and Insurance circa 1968.