Established in 1974, Athens Market Taverna has been a gathering place for dignitaries, politicians, sports celebrities and Hollywood stars, from Elizabeth Montgomery ("Bewitched") to Andy Rooney.
Owner Mary Pappas is a third-generation restaurateur who moved to San Diego from Greece in 1961 to attend school.
A pioneer in downtown's renaissance, Pappas renovated the bottom floor of the historic Senator Hotel and moved her restaurant from E Street to its current location in 1986.
In 1994, she expanded her restaurant to the North County location and added a concession in the San Diego Convention Center, a popular eatery for out-of-towners.