Thanasis Spanos passed away on 31 July, surrounded by families and friends.
The news spread throughout the Greek community of Melbourne where Mr Spanos was well known for writing history with his businesses. A fixture in the Greek Australian hospitality industry, he was known for Medallion on Lonsdale Street, Thanasis tavern at Hughesdale and Vanilla at Oakleigh.
Born in Imathia, Central Macedonia, he came to Australia as a migrant and was successful in hospitality. Known for his humour and weakness for tsipouro, he lived a life to the fullest. In recent years he had taken a break from work due to his health problems.
Vanilla posted news of the death on Facebook: