John Stratidis does it all at the famous Cozy Soup ‘n’ Burger, the Greenwich Village diner he has worked at since he was 9 years old.

He started by helping out his dad, Mike, and uncle, George. They were Greek immigrants who opened the place in 1972. Stratidis’ grandfather, also named John, worked there too.

What You Need To Know

The famous Cozy Soup ‘n’ Burger is a diner in Greenwich Village 

It was opened in 1972 by Greek immigrants Mike and George Stratidis

The diner is famous for its nine-ounce burgers and split pea soup

“We’ve been here now 53 years and I’m trying to keep their legacy alive as much as I can. And I wake up and I put on a show every morning. Every day actually,” Stratidis said. 

But it hasn’t been easy, especially since the pandemic.

The Cozy was once a 24-hour business, but now closes at 8 p.m. most nights, as well as 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

(Spectrum News NY1/Roger Clark)

Stratidis blames the shrinking club scene in the area and more people working from home for the drop in business.

He is trying to keep the place going with more social media promotion, some new design features inside the classic diner, and, for the first time in the restaurant’s history, he says they are lowering prices.

“We did this, number one, to help our community to be able to bring people back into the establishment and create affordable food again, right?” Stratidis, who is a Queens native, said. 

The diner was recently featured in an episode of “Dexter: Resurrection” and is a favorite of actor Adam Sandler.

It was also in both films “Big Daddy” and “Mr. Deeds.”

Straditis says that is all helpful, getting folks to come in and eat their famous burgers and pea soup and keep a family tradition going.

“I want to see, God willing, another 100 years, you know? I want to see the legacy continue and to what we do best,” Stratidis said.

Stratidis says he tells people to support their local businesses because when they are done, they are done.

“It stinks, but it’s the truth,” he said.Â