KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A man who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 13 years old, before opening a beloved restaurant near the University of Tennessee that hosted a variety of students and university leaders before it closed in 2012, has died.
Gus Kampas was 87 years old. He died on June 17. He was born in Marathia, Greece, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1950 after a solo boat journey. After attending high school and working at the Gold Sun restaurant on Market Square, he moved to Los Angeles and cooked for stars like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
His obituary said he returned to Knoxville in 1960, working to bring his entire family from Greece to Knoxville. It also said he owned several Knoxville businesses with his brother, Victor Kampas, including the Varsity Inn restaurant on Cumberland Avenue.
The restaurant became a beloved fixture among UT students and faculty. The UT Libraries said while many students believed the cafeteria was open only to student-athletes, anyone could eat there for lunch or dinner. It also said the Varsity Inn was known for having more food choices than other cafeterias on campus.
His obituary said it attracted leaders like Victor Ashe, Jim Hudson, Pat Ryan and Bobby Scott. Gus ran the Varsity Inn for around 30 years before it was closed in the summer of 2012.
He also opened the Lakeview Market and Kampas Liquor Store on Alcoa Highway, according to his obituary. It said he also chaired both Greek Night and GreekFest multiple times, often volunteering for events by the St. George Greek Orthodox Church.