Peter Zamanis just before opening recently at Mr Zed’s Billiard Room and Sports Bar. (Photo: Quinte News)
August 5 was a very special day for a long-time Belleville businessman, a man who seems to many to have always been here.
On that recent day Peter Zamanis marked 70 years of life in Belleville and a full 60 years as a Downtown District entrepreneur.
Zamanis, now 85, is the owner/operator of Mr. Zed’s Billiards and Sports Bar which has 6 tables on the main floor and 3 downstairs and also includes an eatery offering subs, burgers and some Greek specialties.
Zamanis immigrated to Canada from Greece with his uncle Jimmy Yeotes, a man who will be well known to older Belleville residents as the owner/operator of Uptown Billiards since 1936.
“It was 1950 and my family was very poor. The second world war had just ended which left us in a mess and after the Germans left Greece we had a civil war with a communist rebellion. In my eyes there was no future and I already had one brother in Canada so when uncle Jimmy came from Canada to visit us in Greece another brother and I just decided to go back with him. Jimmy would make sure we had work when we got to Belleville. I was 15.”
Zamanis and the others spent 22 days on a ship getting to Canada. “Most of us lost weight because we’d be seasick half the time but not Uncle Jimmy. He could eat through almost any storm. He ate our food when we couldn’t. He gained 20 pounds” said a chuckling Zamanis.
Another well known Greek businessman came prominently into play on the day after Zamanis’ arrival in Belleville.
It was wedding day for another Downtown District legend, the late Louis Tsichlas of Cosy Grill fame.
“We had to go with Uncle Jimmy and it was a big wedding. Here I was a kid in a new country coming from a very poor situation only to go upstairs at a place and see a big bathtub filled with ice cubes and lots of beer! That opened my eyes!”
Jimmy Yeotes had promised his nephew work and he wasn’t lying. Young Peter started right in as a shoeshine boy at the front of Uptown Billiards.
“It was busy. We had 12 real leather chairs with brass legs and nice big mirrors in the shoeshine area and when I wasn’t shining shoes I was racking up balls at the pool tables. I was making 7 dollars a week but it was fun and my brother and I saved our money (Zamanis doesn’t smoke or drink) and for a while we sent our Mother back in Greece about half of what we made.
As happens to many immigrants, Zamanis faced discrimination from some of the locals. While stressing that most people were great as he shone shoes, served hot dogs and racked balls, he realized as a young man he’d have to stand up for himself to gain some people’s respect. “I decided I had to not let them push me around. I wasn’t a big guy but I got some of those guys to respect me! I won a few fights.”
Zamanis worked for his uncle for about 10 years and when Yeotes decided to retire he bought the Uptown Billiards business but not the building. He wanted a building as well as the business so in 1972 bought the building next door to where the Uptown was and has been there ever since.
He also owned and operated Mary’s Billiards which was located upstairs in a building near the 4 corners for 5 years starting in 1967.
Zamanis has seen a lot of ups and downs over his decades in business downtown. He saw many great years. “Before the Quinte Mall downtown Belleville was the place to be. They came from Trenton, Brighton, Stirling, Marmora, Deseronto and even Bancroft! Business was great and pool was very popular.”
Back in the 50’s, there were 4 billiards halls in the Downtown District. Uptown Billiards, Pappas, National, and Lafferty’s and all of them thrived. And in those days you had to be a male 19 years of age or older to play. Females were not welcome.
“We were all busy. There was a lot of gambling in the old days. More than a few guys didn’t bother with full time jobs. They paid their bills playing pool. Now it’s different. But I’ve had a great time here. I’ve met so many nice people and I have 2 great daughters and 4 grandchildren. I don’t regret coming to Canada and Belleville one little bit.”
When asked about the ongoing infrastructure and beautification efforts being made in the Downtown District Zamanis said “they’re trying and I like it that they’re trying to push more for more places for people live in and around the downtown. If a lot more people live down here business is going to come back strong again.”
As for the future Zamanis will continue to operate “Zed’s” but at some point after the Covid 19 pandemic ends will sell the business.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Those Mr Zed’s Special subs still taste as good now as they did in the 70’s. Many thanks to Bill and Bev Yeotes and Elaine Smith (Yeotes) for providing information and photographs and to Rick Christopher for telling me of Peter’s impressive anniversary.