Demetrios Imirziades, a Greek immigrant known as Big Nick who created restaurants that served Upper West Siders for more than five decades, died in his native Greece on Wednesday, according to his wife Sheri Kern-Imirziades. Nick owned Big Nick’s on Broadway and 76th, Niko’s Mediterranean Grill, and Pizza Joint Too, which still operates under new ownership at West 71st & Columbus. On the last day at Big Nick’s in 2013, we talked to Nick and some of his customers for the video below.
Sheri sent the obituary below:
Known as “Big Nick” to New Yorkers, Demetrios N. Imirziades died on Wednesday, July 24th, 2019 at age 77. He was in his native Greece, where he was intending to live permanently, surrounded by his family and childhood friends. Although he had been unwell for several years, he was so full of life and purpose that his sudden death was a shock to his friends. The cause of death was stroke.
For over 50 years, Nick walked up and down Broadway in the West 70s, checking on his restaurants and greeting passers-by. On his 50th anniversary in business, Nick turned back the cost of a burger to 1962 prices, when a hamburger was 60 cents and coffee, 15 cents. The last day of Big Nick’s in 2013 is fully documented by his customers on YouTube, the Big Nick’s facebook page, and many other websites. His restaurants were featured in many newspapers and periodicals worldwide, as well as TV and radio programs. He had an associate degree from what is now the hotel/restaurant program of CUNY in Brooklyn.
Nick was born in Athens, Greece. As a teenager, he won a city-wide track competition in shot-put and participated in junior international competitions. He also played basketball, and, as he often admitted, he played far too many billiard games in his neighborhood “kafeneon”.
He came to the U.S. in 1961 on a student visa. He paid expenses working as a dishwasher and counterman at bowling alleys around Jersey City. Money was tight, and sometimes school was not affordable. Therefore, for a short time, Nick was undocumented—another example of an immigrant who made a huge contribution to his adopted country.
Nick built and operated several restaurants: the original Big Nick’s on Broadway, Pizza Joint Too (still working at West 71st & Columbus Ave), Niko’s Mediterranean Grill, and others. His enterprises commonly employed up to 100 people thus supporting many families. He knew all their names and their schedules. He had great pride in the children of his workers, many of whom became, doctors, lawyers, teachers, MBAs, journalists and independent business owners. The total city, state and federal taxes generated by his enterprises averaged $300,000-plus per year.
Nick was preceded in death by his brother, Athens architect Giannis Imirziades, and first wife, Angelina. He is survived by his wife Sheri, daughters Ourania and Georgia, stepdaughter Kim Midolo-Vitabile, sister Foteini Papakonstantopoulou, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. His funeral was Thursday July 25th in Greece.
Rest in peace, Nick. Everything is all right with us “for the next five minutes.”
RIP Big Nick!
RlP, Nick! I was so sad when they closed. Nick let me film in there on the last night and Gothamist shared it. https://gothamist.com/2013/07/31/video_the_last_night_at_big_nicks.php
RIP Nick… back in the early 60s, I went to school around the corner… we used to spend free periods hanging out in his place ordering 15 cent toasts, he never harassed us at all!
I went to Collegiate in the 1960s. Big Nick’s was our canteen. Nick always greeted us warmly and let us hang out for as long as we cared to. We repaid him as adults when we had actual cash to spend.
Very sad to hear. Big Nicks was my favorite place to have breakfast and I miss it very much.
Rest In Peace
You were the upper west side for most of us!
Most of our landmarks in life were celebrated at one of your establishments as well as daily jaunts and cups of coffee with friends. Xo
Aaaaai. We used to go to Big Nick’s after school. Condolences to his family. I am so sorry for your loss.
I loved that place
Sad news. What a great neighborhood citizen Nick was. When you would ask Nick how things were, he would reply “next five minutes,” not wanting to predict beyond that. I’m sorry he didn’t realize his dream of living permanently in Greece. Condolences to his family.
The absolute best pizza!
Kind, wonderful guy. Thanks for all your help making our neighborhood GREAT.
I loved Big Nicks and went there regularly. I was sad when it closed and I’m sad to hear Nick passed, but I’m so glad he had a few years in retirement to hopefully enjoy his time in Greece and with his family. Rest in Peace, Big Nick.
RIP Nick and thanks for the kindness, balloons and extra desserts you shared with my children when we visited Big Nick’s.
Big Nick was goodness. His work ethic was simple: work hard and be there. He worked harder than anyone and he was always there, walking between his restaurants in his big black shirt and pants, serious and calm. How did that little kitchen produce a huge menu of edibles that we enjoyed. How did he keep up the quality? The walls were covered with memorabilia and exhortations to the employees to do the right thing. He lived the American dream. We speculated on how rich he must be. I hope he enjoyed the brief retirement he allowed himself.
He was a love and a blessing, a hero of the Upper West Side.
Ruth
A very nice article for an important UWS person. But why must you inject politics into it?
Yes, we are aware that there are many undocumented immigrant success stories. The point of people who are against illegal immigration is that rules and procedures should be followed. It is unfair to the people who play by the rules and apply to come in.
Read it again. The statement was an obituary his wife sent in. Perhaps he/she was proud of his immigrant status.
RIP Nick…you were a westside treasure!
For so many years BIg Nick was an amazing Institution on the UWS . We frequented all of his restaurants and always loved meeting him on the street. On a trip to Greece I bought a Plate as a gift for his restaurant. He was deeply touched to have been remembered and to receive a gift from his beloved country. His work ethic, community contribution and ever warm and friendly nature made him a true inspiration. He will be forever remembered by the legions of loyal customers who knew him.
My mom and I went to his restaurants and we talked with him. He was a part of our lives.
A sweetheart of a man. Big Nick once sat down with my late disabled wife and me at our table in Niko’s. We were about ready to order and Nick shared the history of his restaurants. My late wife said that we liked both but since she became disabled it was not possible to get her and the wheelchair into Big Nicks. So Big Nick took our pizza order and soon delivered the pie to our table in Niko’s. His parting comments were “always feel free to request a Big Nick’s menu when dining in Niko’s. RIP Big Nick – you were a good man.
Very sad, big nick represented part of my life rest in peace
I was the “preppy” delivery guy @ Pizza & Burger Joints on B’way & 77th in 1982. Nick was a fantastic, kind man. Most fun job ever!
Aloha Sheri,
I am sorry to hear of Nickʻs passing and your loss of your lifelong partner. We have all moved on from an area that only exists in our memories and in our hearts,
but I am glad that you went to Greece for a more laid back life in a place perhaps less changed by time.
We struck up a friendship when you advertised with me
representing West Side TV Shopper. Those were good times, in a real neighborhood! Nick and your enterprises
together are certainly missed, but embedded in nice memories. Thank you for sharing the news in a way I could access it.
He was a good man, a kind man, had integrity. He watched my son grow up over many, many visits, was very supportive of Upper Westside Soccer teams. He was always interested, never too busy to have a conversation. Had the best pizza and garlic bread aside from a menu of every food you could think of advertised on small pieces of paper covering every bit of wall space. His life made a difference, he is missed already.
A friend, fellow restauranteur for over 40 years, spent many hours of quality time trying to figure how to make the world a better place. Would have loved to have had a Ouzo with him in Greece, have missed him from the West Side this past years. Yiasou!! Big Nick
Read all the comments.Feel like a part of my life died too. The Burger Joint was a 1 of a kind kitchy,great food,homey,nuerotic,eccentric place;of course it all flowed from Nick (and Sheri,who was possibly responsible for all those incredible home signs and cliches) I still allude to the Joints in conversations. They were a big part of my youth as a young man on the upper West side. As Cheryl Swift says :”you were the upper West side for most of us”.May I add for real NYers,and folksy salt of the earth people.RIP big guy*****
Such a wonderful man. So kind to my children and stepchildren. Big Nick’s was such an institution. In my 20s, we ate pizza and burgers at 3 am after a night at the clubs, aside other partiers as well as doormen and night shift workers and insomniacs. In my 30s, they supplied food to suit all the weird diets I went on – lived on their burgers during Atkins. Later when I was pregnant, their extensive menu extinguished my weird cravings. Then eventually it became an early morning breakfast place with kids. I truly grew up with that
restaurant, and Nick and the longtime staffers worked so hard to make a good experience every time. I felt like it was the end of an era when they closed…Nick’s was the oldtime West Side. I still miss it. I am sorry Nick didn’t get to enjoy a longer retirement, but glad he got to at least enjoy some time in his beloved Greece. Condolences to his wife and the rest of his family. He was a special person.
I loved Nick’s, when Nick’s was Nick’s. Went to all three, Niko’s, Big Nick’s, and Pizza Joint Too. Mostly went to the one on 71st St. Even though I was always confused as to when it really wasn’t Nick’s anymore. But it held onto to the tradition of Nick’s and I used to love to sit there and look at all the hamburger combinations. It was dirty (in a good way…LOL), cramped, and the wait staff was always friendly despite having to navigate the snarky locals and the tourists with the guide books in their hands. Hey, does anyone remember that scary clown ceiling lamp they had right as you came in the door? It was a glass dish with a creepy looking clown staring at you from above. The dish was secured by a red ball that integrated as his nose. Naturally, I had to have a lamp like that, so for quite some time I searched the net for the same lamp. Finally, after a couple of years, I found the exact one on ebay for about $10.00. So now I get to scare the crap out of myself on my way to the bedroom and think of Nick’s Sumo burger everyday. LOL RIP Nick. You are missed.
Great guy, RIP
A great man and Upper West Sider, sending condolences to his wife and family.
One day I was looking at his last name, Imirziades, on the food license in the restaurant, and realized that before Big Nicks, there was a Pizza place on the same street called Izmir Pizza, slices were 20 cents while I went to PS 87.
I am thinking that must have been him too,
Danny
Town Shop
My husband and I had the pleasure of visting with Nick many times while staying at the Belleclaire over the years. We are from Alabama and he really made New York “New York” for us. It hasn’t been the same in the years we’ve stayed there since his closure. RIP, Nick. You made a difference in the world!
We love you Nick. Your diner was the only place on the upper West side that warmly welcomed young children. The closure a big nicks burger joint was a great loss to our community.
great story of a great New Yorker who helped to make made the city and his neighborhood what it is today–and hopefully will remain: ever welcoming to all from anywhere!
I am devastated by the passing of my dear friend Nick. For a major part of my life I knew him and as so many west siders I ate at his place. My entire family knew him and respected him and of course loved him. The day he came to see my father in a show was a thrill and at one time there was a picture of me on the menu. My grandson went out of his mind , so excited, thinking I worked there. Nick was a fine man , honest , hired people of all walks of life before it was fashionable. Nick was the west side. A fine man, a wonderful example of what a true American should be. Rest in power.
The big nick burger was superb and a much better value than shake shack. Plus, it was flame broiled and the fries were great.
If you couldn’t find something on the menu, then you weren’t really hungry.
Our two children grew up at Big Nick’s, and happily took home balloons on sticks emblazoned with Big Nick’s logo until they felt they were too old to do so. Then they wore bright yellow t-shirts with Big Nick’s name in red letters on the front and information about the restaurant on the back. We gladly introduced friends, family and our tenants to Big Nick’s while we continued to live in our brownstone on West 78th Street, and we ordered in on snowy days, tipping Nick’s intrepid delivery staff grandly. Once when we saw Nick trapped under a canopy on our block in a downpour, I ran out with two umbrellas from our rotating collection, so he could make it to 76th and Broadway and I could dash home. My sister once asked Nick why he was open only 23 hours a day, and he explained that they had to clean the place thoroughly once every day. His staff was very loyal and stayed with him for years. If you arrived at a shift change, you might find Nick, his cooks and wait staff having a meeting in the back of the store. We moved to Brooklyn when we became empty nesters, but popped in once in a while. My two favorite dishes were the Greek Burger and the extraordinary Chicken Pot Pie made with phyllo dough. We were saddened when his restaurant closed, but gratified that this event garnered a type of gastronomic obituary in both The New York Times and The New Yorker. Nick’s death increases our sorrow, but his family and long-term friends know that he fed us well, treated his employees well, and that our lives were made better by sharing good food and fellowship under his inspired entreprenaurship and his care for his customers.
Rest in peace, Nick. What I would give for a bowl of garlic soup right now.
So very sad to hear this news. My sister, who lived on W 78th for many years introduced me to Big Nicks. Of course, visiting my sister at least twice a year was a special event, but going to Big Nicks for breakfast or lunch was a big deal to me! I looked forward to eating there every single trip to NYC and passed my love for his place on to my children and my grandchildren. My favorites were pancakes and the Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts! Thank you, Big Nick, for making so many families happy!!
Big Nick was a good man, always genuine and kind. His legacy remembered by the many people he served.
He was a big hearted guy After sharing a hospital room with my husband, he never forgot me. If he saw me walk by the restaurant he ran out to hug me. And when I came in to eat, there was always something extra for me to take home.
rip big nick
He was always eager to make everyone happy, and if there was an issue with something (which was rare) he would quickly accommodate. Really sad to see him go, and all of his restaurants.
Our heartfelt and sincerest condolences to Sheri and family. We always enjoyed our friendship with Nick with his smile and good food.
Marilyn and Victor Ruiz
From my arrival in NYC the Spring of 1974 until the Burger Joint closed, I loved my time at Big Nick’s . My time there alone or with with friends created lifelong memories, and,indeed, I was sad to see it all pass into history. Big Nick was cordial to all and if anything went wrong, He would see to it that it was made right again ASAP. Rest in peace Demetrios
Such sad news. We were regulars at his 76-77 restaurant row. He regularly reminded our younger daughter Diana that, in Greece, she would be Artemis, his mother’s name. And I could swear that, one day some 30+ years ago with my then 4 year old older daughter, in the Burger Joint , eating lunch at the next table were Julie Andrews and Blake Edwards. That’s the kind of place it was. Niko’s grilled octopus is still unmatched, BTW. Thank you, Sheri, for letting us know.
SUMO BURGER ! miss ya
It is with great sadness that I read today of Big Nick’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. A few years ago I wrote on my FB page “Hello my friends.Today I want to remember my favorite restaurant in NYC. Hard to believe it’s been over 5 years since Big Nick’s closed its doors for good. It was an upper west side institution for over 50 years and was there when I moved to NYC in 1975. The menu, which I regret not saving, was twenty-five pages long and contained just about every food anyone could desire. I’ve seen people getting lost in it and forgetting to order.There were over thirty variations of Big Nick’s famous half-pound burger. The food was always fresh, the prices were good, it was open 22 hours a day and since it was only about 8 blocks from my apartment I went there often. The friendly owner, Nick Imirziades, was there every day in his usual spot, seated at the end of the counter. He always greeted my boyfriend and I with a big smile and a how are you? The TV was usually tuned to something funny like the Three Stooges since the place was very popular with parents and their kids. Our favorite dish was the florentine pizza with whole wheat crust, tofu cheese and extra mushrooms. Boy was that good! And a surprise complimentary desert from Nick was always appreciated The music constantly playing was varied but when my boyfriend learned that Nick liked 50’s rock and roll the best he offered to make some CD’s of that music. He made compilations of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, some doo wop and Nick’s favorite, Little Richard. What a thrill to hear these CD’s while we were eating. Nick played them over and over. One day I happened to mention that I was a artist and had a solo show coming up. Nick said he would come to the opening. I didn’t really think he would show up but at the opening there he was with his wife.” I said I would come and I always keep my word” he said to me.”