Emmanuel "Lucky" Marinakis

Lucky was born on 03-15-1942 on the island of Evia in Greece, because his parents

Dimitrios and Anna had gone to his grandparents place until the war ended, and then

they returned to Athens.

Three years later, his brother George was born and later his sister Katerina. They were

beloved siblings and since Lucky was the eldest, they admired him, because he was very

sociable and loved, he participated in cycling races, he was the first in the neighbourhood

to get a motorbike and then a car.

He finished high school in 1960, did his military service and then got involved in the

family business together with his father and brother. His talent for business quickly

became apparent, because within 8 years he managed to create and add 2 more stores

to the business.

He got married, had his daughter Anna and in 1971 he decided that Greece was too small

to realise his dreams and left for America.

So he started from scratch like all immigrants, but he quickly managed to buy a

restaurant at 2nd and Pike Street in downtown Seattle with a loan, the

“Olympic Broiler”, which became a hangout for other Greeks. In addition, as the 2

brothers were very close in 1976, George also came to America and so they started

working together again.

In the meantime, he divorced his Greek wife and, lucky as his name suggests, he met

Becky, they got married and had their son Adam.

Lucky for thirty years, was the soul of “Olympic Broiler”, smiling, helpful, humorous,

a successful professional, he was loved by both customers and suppliers and when he

retired, he remained active, helping his nephew in his business.

He was fortunate to see his children grow up and create their own lives, to become a

grandfather to his grandson Mario by his daughter Anna.

He passed away peacefully having his wife and son by his side.