Nick and Louise Gouskos will be changing things up at Nicko’s Resto Bar in Vankleek Hill. This spring, the restaurant will become a breakfast-and-lunch restaurant, open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Although there will be a lunch menu as always, breakfast will now be available all day.

Louise says that they hope to host special events, parties, anniversaries and celebrations during the evening and can offer special menus for those events.

The restaurant, perhaps known for its pizza and lunch specials, already has a loyal breakfast following and weekend breakfasts are especially popular.

But over the years, the long hours of work for the couple, on the go for 17 to 18 hours per day, meant they had less time to do things together, as Louise was the morning person, while Nick came on duty at noon and worked into the evenings.

“We love what we do and we are not ready to hang up our aprons yet, but we want a little bit of our life back and so we are going to try something new,” Louise says.

The focus of the restaurant will be new, but that’s not all. The breakfast offerings will include more items, including omelets with feta cheese and she will continue with her weekend treats of homemade waffles, breakfast pitas and more. Healthy breakfast choices will continue, with eggs benedict, eggs Florentine and other special items throughout the week.

“We are keeping everyone’s favourites, but adding extras, like panini sandwiches for our lunch menu. And lunch specials formerly offered on specific days will be available every day,” she said.

“The people who come here are like family,” said Louise, who says she is assuring customers that they will continue to enjoy their favourite meals there.

Another reason for the change is that it has been a struggle to find staff to work during restaurant hours.

But Louise is looking forward to hosting special events and creating special menu offerings, perhaps even some of the Greek specialties that they are known for – for evening celebrations and fundraisers.

Nicko’s Resto Bar will also be getting a new look and some new colours. To give the restaurant a “refresh”, it will close on March 10 at 2 p.m. and will reopen on Friday, March 15 with its new look, and new hours as a breakfast and lunch place.