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“ Demos’ Restaurant was started by my

parents in 1989. My father wanted to have

something of his own – something where he didn’ t have partners or investors and didn’ t have to answer to anybody. It was something he envisioned as a business he could eventually retire into,” Peter begins, reflecting on Demos’ journey thus far.

“ The restaurant business has been part of my family for generations. I initially left the industry to go into law, but I eventually returned to the restaurant business in 1999.

I wanted to be a lawyer because I wanted to help people, but I eventually realized that I could make a greater impact on people’ s lives through restaurants, both

with customers and employees. I then took over the operations in 2001 and bought the business from my father in 2009. We’ re now coming up on our 37th anniversary, which is remarkable.”

YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUESTS. WE’ LL TAKE CARE OF THEIR COMFORT.

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Intentional service

From steak and seafood to pasta and chicken, Demos’ menu is eclectic, but there’ s one thing you won’ t find: a fryer. The same intentionality that shapes what Demos’ puts on the plate, though, also shapes how the company serves its people. That commitment to serving others became even more meaningful when Demos’ redefined its purpose around caring for both customers and employees, transforming not just its approach to hospitality, but its culture from the inside out.

“ About ten years ago, we changed our purpose because that was when I had a profound change in my faith. We changed our purpose to’ glorify God by serving others’, which means serving and caring for both our customers and our employees. Prior to that, we took care of our employees in much the same way we would take care of a piece of equipment. We did good things for them and treated them well; otherwise, we would not have two employees to celebrate 30 years with us this month, but truthfully, there was a more selfish reason behind it.

“ When that changed, we began to see people the way God sees them, and that fundamentally changed our culture,” Peter reveals.“ At that point, we also developed our values. Having those foundational values is important for every company. When you find yourself in a moment of tension or uncertainty, if you don’ t have those values to fall back on, you react and make judgments based on what everyone else is telling you to do.

“ We also have chaplains that work for us,” he adds.“ Our chaplain is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If any of our employees are experiencing a crisis, the chaplain is there to help and counsel them.”

With a clear set of values guiding decisions and a commitment to helping

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