Our Story
A Short History
Angelo Vangelatos arrived in Ann Arbor from Greece in 1951. He married Patricia Verames in 1954. It took them two years to scrape together the money to open Angelo's.
Business grew over the years, and by the 1970s, the family had to hire outside help to keep up with customer demand.
Angelo and Pat retired in 1986. Their son Steve, and his wife Jennifer took over the business. Angelo passed away in the fall of 1989. In 1990 the restaurant was remodeled. They built a new kitchen and added seating. Three years later, they opened Angelo's On The Side, a coffee house with a separate kitchen for take-out. Business kept growing and by 1995 they added a bakery to connect the two restaurants in order to handle the demand for fresh bread baked daily.
Steve and a dedicated staff carry on Angelo's legacy of raisin toast, fresh eggs, crisp bacon, and lines that stretch around the corner.
After 67 years and more than two million loaves of homemade bread, I’ve decided to close Angelo’s and slide into the next stage of my career.
First and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Jennifer. I could not have accomplished my dream of running this restaurant without her support and love — and also my sons Nick and Tony for all their hard work and support. I also want to thank my sister, Vickie, for all her hard work, her good cheer serving all of you, and for helping keep Angelo’s the kind of family business my parents always envisioned. I want to thank my brother-in-law, Jack, for his tireless effort running Angelo’s On The Side, for his general good cheer and for always having my back. To Jessica and Dave, thank you for more than 30 years in the front of the restaurant and in the kitchen. Your dedication helped make Angelo’s what it is today. So did all of Angelo’s employees, past and present. This restaurant wouldn’t be here without them. I’d like to give a special thanks to the city of Ann Arbor and to the University of Michigan for helping us grow and for sending all those medical students our way! Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who’s ever stopped by for a meal, for a cup of coffee, for a slice of raisin toast, for a carryout order. This is your place, too, and we are grateful to have served you. Closing Angelo’s was a difficult decision but it’s one that had to be made. And it was time. My family and I have had a blessed run, and now the next chapter of my life awaits.
Gratefully and sincerely,
Steve Vangelatos
Owner