Bright Star / Koikos Restaurant

In 1907, Greek immigrant Tom Bonduris invested his savings and opened a small cafe with only a horseshoe shaped bar at First Avenue and 21st Street in Bessemer, Alabama. After outgrowing three locations, the Bright Star moved to its present site in 1915 and introduced patrons to a new dining atmosphere. Its interior remained true to its 1915 appearance, with handpainted murals on the walls, a marble-tiled floor, and private curtained booths, while major alterations and renovations of the premises and kitchen were completed in 1966. The dining room was expanded in 1978 with the addition of the “1907” room, and again in 1985 with the “Dixie” and “Green” rooms. Bill and Pete Koikos, family patriarchs who immigrated from Greece in 1923, purchased an ownership interest in the Bright Star from Bonduris in 1925, and in 1966 Bill's sons Jim and Nick Koikos became owners and operators. From its opening, the Bright Star grew from a 25-seat cafe to a 300-seat restaurant without sacrificing quality, earning a reputation for longevity through one family's commitment to outstanding service and superior cuisine and through the dedication of loyal staff members. Its honors included listing since 2005 in the Alabama Tourism Department's “100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die” brochure and the James Beard Foundation's 2010 America Classics Award, given annually to five restaurants with timeless appeal and quality food that reflects the character of their community.

Bessemer, Alabama · United States