04/19/2026
With heavy hearts, we share Nick’s story as we honor the life and legacy of Nikolaos Balaskas. His story is forever woven into the history of L & G and the communities he served. Service details and full obituary in the link below. 🤍
The story of L & G goes back nearly a century. It’s said the name first appeared in the 1920s in the small town of Harvey, Illinois, during the Great Depression.
To this day, no one knows for certain what the initials L & G originally stood for, perhaps Larry & George, or Lou & Gus. The meaning was never written down, but the name endured, passed along through time and memory. Nick would often jokingly and affectionately refer to L & G as “Lousy & Greek,” a reflection of his humor and the pride he carried in both the name and his heritage.
In the 1970s, Nick’s sister reopened a previously closed restaurant under the L & G name. With limited resources at the time, changing the name wasn’t an option, so L & G remained. What began as necessity slowly became tradition.
Nick carried that tradition forward when he opened and operated L & G Family Restaurant at 75th & Exchange on the South Side of Chicago in 1980, where he and his wife, Lambrini, dedicated 43 years to building not just a business, but a community. Through decades of hard work, they created a place where relationships were formed, families gathered, and generations returned. That location remained a cornerstone of the community until it closed its doors in 2023 following his retirement.
It was truly a family business. His three children, Dino, Joann, and George, each dedicated years working alongside him, learning not only the day to day operations but the value of hard work, commitment, and perseverance. Nick paved the way, instilling in them a strong work ethic that would carry on for generations.
As the years went on, the story continued to grow. He later expanded to 111th & Western, before establishing the second permanent location at 104th & Torrence Avenue in 1997 on the Southeast Side of Chicago, a location that continues to operate today and remains at the heart of the family’s legacy. In 2005, his son Dino took over the 104th location, continuing what Nick had built.
In 2008, Nick opened a third location in Markham, further extending the L & G name into another community. Though that chapter was brief and the location closed after a few years, it remained part of his continued vision and drive.
Though the 75th & Exchange location has since closed, the name L & G continues to stand for decades of trust, hard work, and connection.
https://orricofuneral.com/nikolaos-balaskas/
