BY ANDREA PALMER
A new business, the Country Diner, opened in
Fort Edward about a month ago.
Chris Kalamandis, owner and operator, has lived
in Fort Edward for only three months. He purchased
the building at 134 Broadway from the previous
owner, who lives in Troy.
Kalamandis is Greek and has lived in Norwalk,
Conn., on the Connecticut-New York state line for
many years. He spent the last year and a half traveling
throughout the country and state. He landed in Fort
Edward several months ago and liked the town
because it reminded him of living in Norwalk in
the 1970s. He saw business opportunity and stayed.
“I love it here, and that is the bottom line,” said
Kalamandis. “A person has opportunity here to make
anything he wants, as long as he is willing to work.
If he is willing to work, he has all the opportunity
in the world.”
Kalamandis said the cost of living in Norwalk was
extraordinarily high. The cost of living in the Upstate
area is much more reasonable. He currently lives
above the business but is considering purchasing
property in Fort Edward or the surrounding area.
“I’ve made good friends in just the little time I
have been here. Guys I did not even know before
took me to look at houses. The people here, they are
different. People here are more into working hard,”
said Kalamandis.
“I was in the restaurant business for 13 years. At
32, after working for many years, I built a [previous]
restaurant up and then expanded to three restaurants,”
said Kalamandis. Afterward, Kalamandis worked
in construction for 25 years before returning to the
restaurant business with the Country Diner.
Kalamandis has three grown children and a
number of grandchildren, all of whom live outside
the area.
“I’m going to live here, and it looks like it will be
for the rest of my life. I want to buy a property so I
can build my own house. I’m going to go after this
career. If I can meet every person and if I can help in
any way, that is what I want to do,” said Kalamandis.
Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.