West Newsmagazine 5-20-20

Spiro’s is looking for answers to provide
a safe environment for their customers
As Spiro’s opens up its restaurants
amid lingering concerns
around COVID-19, one thing
is paramount: The safety of its
customers and staff.
“This is a very difficult time
and no one has all the answers
“We’re going to do whatever
we can to protect customers.”
– Tim Karagiannis
but we’re going to do the very
best we can to help keep our
customers, staff and families
safe,” said restaurant manager
Tim Karagiannis, whose family
originated the local Greek
restaurant in 1975. “A year ago,
our conversations were about
recipes and plating. Now, we’re
focused on protocols to protect
– as much as we can – our customers
and staff.”
With a location in St. Charles
County, Karagiannis could have
been back in business on May 4
but he chose to wait until a new
air purification system
was in
place at that location.
“We waited past the opening
date by more than a week in St.
Charles to make sure that we
have every possible precaution
in place,” Karagiannis said.
The system, installed by Classic
Aire Care, uses
ultra-violet light
in combination
with a carbon
filter to reduce
airborne pathogens.
The same system will be
installed at the Chesterfield
location prior to its reopening.
Additionally, the company
added motion-activated faucets
and soap dispensers in its restrooms
and is following
the guidelines
recommended
by the state and
the Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention.
“We’re trying
to minimize the
risk as much as possible
here at Spiro’s,” Karagiannis
said.
The purest air possible
The Fresh-Aire UV
APCO is an advanced
photocatalytic oxidation induct
air purifier, which is
proven to reduce airborne
mold spores, bacteria, odors
and viruses.
“It’s very low maintenance
and effective,” said Trevor
Miller, vice president of Classic
Aire Care. “We’ve been working
with it for about five years
and it’s been a very
successful product for
us. I have one in my
home, and we’ve put
hundreds of them in
homes all across the
St. Louis region.”
“That’s all I needed
to know,” Karagiannis
said. “I saw them first
hand, did my research
and told Trevor to install
them. Why not?
Why not have that
air pass through the
APCO system? It’s just
adding another layer of
protection.”
According to its manufacturer,
the patented Fresh-
Aire UV APCO
cell absorbs contaminates,
allows
for the complete
oxidation of
those contaminates
and breaks
down captured
impurities into simple
carbon dioxide and
water vapor.
“The UV-C light along with
the carbon filter really helps get
rid of the things you don’t want
in the air you breathe – smells,
odors, VOCs [volatile organic
compounds], bacteria, mold, viruses,
all that stuff,” Miller said.
While Karagiannis acknowledged
that no system or person
is perfect, he said it’s important
to him that Spiro’s does what it
can to operate its restaurants as
safely as possible.
“A lot of our employees have
family members at home who
are in high risk populations,”
Classic Aire technician installating a
Fresh-Aire UV APCO TM at the St. Charles location
he said. “So, we’re going to do
whatever we can to protect customers,
employees and families.
Everybody’s got family – that’s
really what it’s all about.”
Forty-five years of
family meals
“Our customers are the best!”
Karagiannis declared. “The
original Spiro’s opened in 1975.
The Chesterfield location at
1054 N. Woods Mill Road,
opened in 1981 and the St.
Charles location at 2275 Bluestone
Drive, opened in 2004.
“During the shutdown of
our dining rooms, we’ve had
so many of our customers with
families express that they miss
us. They’ve been supporting us,
calling in orders for curbside
and pickup, and leaving very
large gratuities for our staff .
Karagiannis thanked the
community for its support.
“We’re doing the best that we
can,” he said, “for all our families.”
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