By Rachel Schreiber

When John Roumanis, owner of Carlyle Grill, was 18 years old he left Sparta, Greece, and in the following years he would grow through the kinds of life experiences which would lead him to open successful restaurants in California and Ann Arbor. Guiding his journey would be his vision of the American Dream, which he states, “is a combination of a lot of hard work, and clear goals.”

When John arrived in Ann Arbor, he connected with his cousin Sam. John says, “Ann Arbor was a cultural shock in the 1960s and the 70s. There were revolts and demonstrations during the hippie years. It was a real eye opener.”

Working in local restaurants; helped pay for John’s bills and his EMU tuition. When he was a junior, at the end of the Vietnam War, John enlisted in the US Army because they promised to pay for his tuition.

He says, “The army was a great experience. You’re not a person, you have to become a number, you have to really adapt to current conditions. It was a growing experience too. I came into contact with all kinds of people and saw many sites. I discovered my own self and learned self discipline and hard work.” After he was discharged from the army in 1975 he and Sam opened a discotheque, The Scene, a nightclub in Ann Arbor.

Not one to sit for long or get too comfortable, John longed to discover the west coast. It was there he met his mentor, a manager of the Hyatt Hotel in Long Beach, California. John says, “I learned a lot and worked very hard and very long hours. I knew this what I wanted to do. In this business, if you have the drive and the work ethic you can succeed.”
His mentoring proved to be successful; John opened a restaurant in Belmont Shores, California and did well. In 1980, his cousin Sam contacted John because Sam wanted to expand, Cottage Inn, his Ann Arbor restaurant. John says, “I still question, why did I have to do it (return to Ann Arbor)? I did very well in California; I had a good life. I worked hard, played hard. I owned a home at a young age. I had no reason come back, but you never know how things are going to work in life. I don’t regret it and I’m glad my kids are growing up in Ann Arbor.”

In 1995, John knew the uncomfortable feeling of being comfortable; opening his own restaurant was foremost on his mind. The answer was Mediterrano Restaurant. “When I was close to 40, I questioned what I was doing. It was a great risk (to open a restaurant), but I knew if didn’t do it then, I never would.” He goes on to say, “I created something entirely on my own and I’m proud of it. I had good experiences with previous ventures, but it was critical time wise. Should I stay and feel comfortable or do something I wanted to do?”

Three years ago, that familiar feeling settled in and John needed to try something new. Carlyle Grill was born. John wants every diner to have an exceptional dining experience. He says, “You cannot only have the atmosphere, it wouldn’t work. But you have to have atmosphere. You have to have good service, but service alone won’t do it. You need to have quality food. You have to have all three.” John continues, “In Carlyle’s every employee is an ambassador for the restaurant.”

If you have found this story interesting, informative or inspiring, please let John know!

Carlyle Grill
John Roumanis
3660 Jackson Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 734-213-9800