Akis Petretzikis explains closing profitable restaurants for family

Chef Akis Petretzikis has shared the personal reasons behind his decision to close his profitable restaurant businesses. During a television interview, he clarified that the closure was not due to financial difficulties, but rather a desire to prioritize his family and spend more time with his two children.

Petretzikis noted that managing multiple business fronts, including ten different ventures and four physical locations, had become overwhelming and prevented him from being present at home during weekends and evenings. He expressed that while he misses the restaurants, he has grown accustomed to his current lifestyle and family commitments.

Reflecting on his career, the chef also discussed his journey from winning the first season of MasterChef Greece to his experiences working in London at The Goring hotel, where he encountered members of the British Royal Family. He touched upon the challenges of being a professional in a competition filled with amateurs and the evolution of his career through media, books, and social platforms.