Constantine’s restaurant was established in 1934 by owner and Greek immigrant Constantine “Gus” Panayiotou. The restaurant was photographed here in 1946 by Erik Overbey, when it was located at 9-11 N. Royal Street.
Standing at the counter in the bar room was John Martin Thompson, the bartender. At that time, Constantine’s was open seven days a week for 24 hours a day. The upscale restaurant quickly became a favorite of Mobilians, who frequented it for everyday occasions and celebratory affairs alike, including the post-Mardi Gras ball outings that became a famous chapter in the restaurant’s history. It was advertised as “Mobile’s Finest Restaurant,” serving, among other dishes, trout almondine, prime rib, crab au gratin and caramel custard.
The restaurant moved to the new Rodeway Inn at 1500 Government Street in the 60s. After Constantine’s death in 1970, his son, George Panayiotou, took over the restaurant. In the 70s, the eatery moved to their last location on Azalea Road, one block off Airport Boulevard. The restaurant was a mainstay in Mobile until its closing in 1984.
Fun Facts about Constantine’s
- The restaurant was one of Mobile’s first fully air-conditioned businesses.
- Constantine’s had its own butcher shop and a bakery.
- Early on, the waitresses wore maroon dresses with white aprons. Later, they changed to a gold blazer over blue pants.
- The restaurant had many longtime employees. A newspaper article lists that, of Constantine’s 84 employees, 10 were at the restaurant for over 20 years and another 19 had more than 10 years of service.
- In the early days, since the doors were open 24 hours a day, no one on staff had a key to the building.
- George Panayiotou remembers sneaking behind the bar as a child with his brother Nick, and grabbing some maraschino cherries before bartender John Thompson chased them out.
Constantine’s By the Numbers
2,000
The number of meals Constantine Panayiotou and his staff, which numbered to a little over 100, served each day within 12 years of opening Constantine’s.
1964
The year a fire burned Constantine’s, forcing it to relocate that same year to the Rodeway Inn at 1500 Government Street. It still served seven days a week, but no longer operated 24 hours a day.
$5.95
According to a 1970s advertisement, this was the lowest amount customers could pay for dinner, about $26 today. The same advertisement listed “lunch from $1.95.”
Dexter 992
The phone number for the original Constantine’s location. Dexter referred to the phone exchange name.
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