Louis NINIOS

25 JUL 1889 - 24 OCT 1961

• BIRTH: 25 JUL 1889, Balig Kalamasta, Greece
• BURIAL: IOOF Cemetery, Rochester, IN
• DEATH: 24 OCT 1961, Rochester, IN

INDEX

[N7284] Birth: Jul. 25, 1889
Death: Oct. 24, 1961

Published in The Rochester News-Sentinel
Wednesday, October 25, 1961

Louis Ninios
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2 p.m. in the Zimmerman Brothers funeral home here for Louis NINIOS, 73-year-old Rochester restaurant proprietor. Mr. Ninios died at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in the Rochester nursing home, where he had been a patient 2 months. He had been in failing health since 1952.
The Rev. Don ASSAMIKIDIS of the St. Andrews Greek Orthodox church in South Bend will officiate at the rites. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery here. Friends may call at the funeral home after 1 p.m. Thursday.
Mr. Ninios, who lived at 1119 Pontiac street, operated the Berghoff cafe at 1617 Main street with his cousins, Pete NINIOS, who died Feb. 6, 1959, and Christ NINIOS.
A native of Greece, he had been in business here for the past 41 years, since moving to this city from Chicago in 1920. The following year, Mr. Ninios and his cousin Pete opened the New York Candy Kitchen on the site now occupied by the Marathon service station [SE corner] Ninth and Main streets. Christ joined them later.
The Candy Kitchen soon became a popular meeting place for students. In the early 1930s the Nineoses opened the Berghoff cafe in the corner room adjoining the Candy Kitchen. Louis operated this business until the entire building was destroyed by fire in 1949. A year later, the cousins moved to the present location on South Main street.
In its heyday, the downtown Berghoff cafe offered night club entertainment rivaling that in cities of much larger size. The cafe reached the height of its popularity in this era.
A staunch backer and friend of the Cole Brothers circus during its winter-quarter operations in Rochester, Louis Ninios booked many of the circus entertainment acts into his cafe during the off season.
Mr. Ninios also was noted for his community philanthropical activities. On several occasions, he paid the entire cost of a gigantic Christmas entertainment on the Courthouse lawn for the community's children. A large Christmas treet, performances by circus personnel and free gifts and treats for children were provided. He was a generous supporter of all community campaigns.
Louis had planned to provide a huge welcome home party for all the county's servicemen at the close of World War II, the fete, also to be held on the Courthouse lawn. When arrangements for this affair proved too difficult to complete, he instead gave $1,000 to each of the city's two veterans organizations, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
When the Berghoff and Candy Kitchen building was razed by fire, Louis and Pete were honored for their "long record of loyalty and generosity" to the community at a testimonial dinner. Over 100 local businessmen and friends attended the dinner at the Rochester country club, where the Ninioses received a suitably-inscribed plaque.
Born July 25, 1888, at Ammos, Greece, Louis was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicolas NINIOS. He was a member of the St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox church in South Bend.
Surviving are numerous cousins, including Christ NINIOS of Rochester, Gus NINIOS of South Bend and Thomas NINIOS of Chicago.

SOURCE:
Fulton County Indiana Obituaries - 1961
by Jean C. and Wendell C. Tombaugh

Burial:
Rochester IOOF Cemetery
Rochester
Fulton County
Indiana, USA
Plot: Section 15, Row 6