The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for biographies. (October 2021) |
Tom Michalopoulos | |
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Born | Anastasious Michalopoulos January 22, 1950 |
Died | April 21, 2021 | (aged 71)
Nationality | Greek Canadian |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Founding Coffee Time |
Anastasious "Tom" Michalopoulos (January 22, 1950 – April 21, 2021)[1] was a Greek-born Canadian entrepreneur, businessman, president, and founder of Coffee Time.[2] He was also the president of Chairman's Brands the parent company to 241 Pizza, Coffee Time, Eggsmart, New Orleans Pizza, and the Friendly Greek.[3]
Michalopoulos immigrated to Canada from Greece, and originally found employment as a real-estate agent before he started Coffee Time a chain of coffee shops.[2][3] In 1982, along with business partner Young Chang he purchased a coffeehouse named Bentley's Fine Donuts in Bolton, Ontario, and renamed the company to Coffee Time.[4][3] He eventually franchised the company at one point operated over 300 stores in Canada and had franchises abroad in Greece, Qatar, and Afghanistan.[5][6]
On the political field he supported Tom Jakobek during the 2003 Toronto municipal election.[7] He was also involved in developing soccer in Canada by founding and operating a club by the name of Toronto Olympians which played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1998.[8][9] He sold the Olympians to David Gee, but still sponsored the league and team when it relocated to Mississauga, Ontario.[10][11]
He died on April 21, 2021.[12]