The Square Table’s Speros Millas Passes
Decatur Metro | August 24, 2009Scott D sends in Mr. Mallas’ obiturary and adds…
“Anyone that was in Decatur during the 70’s – 90’s went to the Square Table….the owner Speros Millas passed away the other day…..the Square Table was located next to Leon’s in the Eurasia site and was a fixture in Decatur….he was a great community businessman and friend to all patrons…”
Read the full obituary after the jump.
MILLAS, Speros SPEROS MILLAS Speros Millas, of Stone Mountain, Georgia passed away Friday, August 21, 2009 in Decatur’s Odyssey Health Center after a long battle against cancer. Speros was born on February 10, 1933 to Angeliki and Pantelis Millas on the island of Andros, Greece. He emigrated to the United States as a very young man and started work as a dishwasher at the Peach Steak House in downtown Atlanta. In 1953 to 1958, he proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was commended for his valor and fidelity in serving the United States of America. As proprietor of The Square Table Restaurant, he and his family proudly served the Decatur downtown community for over 29 years. Speros was regarded as an exceptional host and his restaurant served as a meeting place for all local politicians, attorneys and visiting dignitaries. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, Aide De Camp, Governor’s Staff formed for defense by Governor George Busbee in 1975. In 1978, he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant, Aide General, in and for the Sheriff’s department of Dekalb County by the honorable Sheriff Pat Jarvis. As a pillar of the Greek community in Atlanta, he was a dedicated and tireless supporter of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. Speros was a mainstay figure at the annual Greek Festival, a committed volunteer to many organizations and a member of AHEPA for over 40 years, which in 2008 recognized him as The Ahepan of the Year. Speros is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 49 years, Zaharoula Millas, his youngest son Demetry Millas in Cumming, GA and his grandson, Spiros Millas in Greece. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and his wife, nieces, nephews and cousins both in Greece and in the United States. He is predeceased by his eldest son, Angelo and his two brothers and parents. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation. Metropolitan Alexios, Father George Alexson and Father Christos Imars will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Rd., N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329 or the Paracletos Greek Orthodox Monastery, 790 Gin House Rd., Abbeville, SC 29620 in his memory. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Monday with a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M. at A. S. Turner & Sons.
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I miss those old days…
I rented a house from Speros in the mid-90’s. To say the least, he was quite a character and the Square table was old school Decatur all the way. He always wanted one of us to bring the rent check by the restaurant at the beginning of each month rather than mailing it to him. It wasn’t a big deal, but I had to learn to be quite firm in saying “no, I really do not need a sausage biscuit today!” Even when I hurt his feelings by turning down the food, he would make me sit down for at least a soda and tell him how school was going and then he would lecture me to call my mother because I moved so far away from her. Like I said, old school all the way. I wondered what had happened to him after the restaurant closed. Decatur may have grown up and fancified itself in the new millenium but I hope it never loses its small town charm and local characters. Condolences to the family and yes, I’m going to call my mom right now…
I remember the Square Table. Back in the early 90’s, my future husband and I were cohabitating in a rental house near DeKalb Medical Center and we frequented the Square Table, as well as the Southern Star (also run by a Greek guy). Those were the days…back when Mick’s was the only “nice” place to eat in the Decapolis…
Thank you for passing this on. I had many a lunch and dinner at the Square table thoughout the 1970’s and early 80’s in Downtown. It always felt like “family’ there.
Is the sign for the Square Table still on the building? I can’t say I have ever noticed it there. What is the practical limit for keeping traditional store signs in place when new businesses move into a site? I can just imagine, over time, that many buildings would have a dozen store signs, and it might be difficult to determine which store is presently there!
The Square Table had one of those 1970s era shake shingle awnings that was put up over most of downtown’s retail buildings to give downtown the “uniform” look of a shopping mall that was all the rage in the 70s. When Speros sold the building the new property owner worked with us and took down the awning to unveil the historic building underneath. Therefore, the Square Table sign is no more. I think I have some before and after photos that I’ll try to find. Speros was among a group of great retailer/restaurant business owners who stuck with Decatur through the lean years. Yes, he was a character but he could be counted on to support downtown. He came back downtown for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Town Center Plan in 2007 and it was great to see him again. We’ll miss him.