Luigi's, Augusta

In 1949, Nicholas Papou Nick Ballas opened the doors to what would become Augustas oldest family-owned restaurant. Born in Mytilini on the island of Lesvos, Greece, Nick came to the United States in approximately 1920 to begin a new life for himself. After migrating to the south from New England, he worked in catering until the opportunity arose to begin his own business. Because few were familiar with Greek cuisine, Nick created a menu with mostly Italian creations, despite his own Greek heritage. The small restaurant with a northern flare quickly became a hub for businessmen, soldiers, and families. In 1954, Nicks health began to fail. To help with the business, Nicks son Chuck and Chucks wife Penny moved down from Massachusetts, with their three children in tow, Cynthia, Debbie, and Chuck Jr. The couple went to work, falling in love with Augusta for its southern charm, good schools, and clean environment. It didnt take long for Chuck and Penny to add their own touches to the restaurant and they quickly became involved in the community. Chuck and Penny became the sole proprietors of Luigis when Nick died unexpectedly in a car accident in 1960. By that time, the couple was fully immersed in the community and continued on with the restaurant, working side by side. Chuck, particularly, had fallen in love with the golf community, as evidenced by the golf memorabilia that dots the restaurants walls to this day. In the early days of the Masters tournament, Chuck would buy tournament tickets and distribute them to his clientele. As history would have it, Luigis became a popular dining spot for many of the tournaments golfers, members, and various celebrities. In 1988, Chuck was ready to retire from the restaurant business. His son Chuck Jr., with his wife Debi, had been running a small pizza place called Lil Luigis for over ten years. It was then that the business passed from the second to third generation. Chuck Jr. ran both restaurants for a time, but wound up selling