When you grow up with a dream, it’s often hard to let go, even when physical limitations force you to reevaluate. That’s kind of what happened to Ted Stambolitis, local restaurateur in the town of Lexington, when he learned that severe astigmatism in his left eye would prevent him from joining the Navy and becoming a naval aviator in his quest to be part of the popular NASA space projects. “Growing up I fell in love with the Apollo space program,” says Stambolitis, “and when they announced the space shuttle program I knew I wanted to be a shuttle pilot.”
Unfortunately the shuttle program wasn’t in the cards. He played around at broadcast journalism after school for a while, but wasn’t inspired, so, lucky for us, Stambolitis followed his father into the time honored food service industry. In 1982 Ted began working for his father at the Market Restaurant in downtown Columbia. Three years later he and his brother Paul opened Plato’s Restaurant behind Dutch Square Mall and eventually a second Plato’s in Ballentine. After two years at their Ballentine location, and somewhat disappointing results, Stambolitis decided to get out of the business and try something different. But if you’ve heard the saying, “it gets in your blood” you can think of Ted, cause a year and a half later he “got the itch” to get back into foodservice and, with the help of his family, in 1992 opened The Flight Deck Restaurant in their original location behind Rush’s in Lexington.
As the business grew they found the need for more space and began an extensive search for a new location. It was a long time customer, Phil Reed, who finally steered them to some old family property just across the street. The property which is now known as The Shoppes at Flight Deck at the intersection of Old Chapin Road and Hwy 378
The restaurant is very unique, and true to Stambolitis’ dream—covered with aeronautical décor and giant model airplanes swooping in from above. There’s even a giant relief of King Kong battling the bi-planes. Pictures, accommodations, and memorabilia adorn the walls. Part of it is Ted’s own collection from over the years, but much of it has been contributed from friends and customers who have served in the military or just have a similar passion for aviation. “Everything in here has a story behind it,” he explains, “as the theme took hold, so many people with the same love of aviation wanted to be a part of the Flight Deck family and contribute their own memories.”
In 2002 Stambolitis actually sold the restaurant, but in 2005 he bought it back and by 2007 expanded and doubled the size of the facility. It now boasts a great game room for kids and several large and small meeting rooms.
The restaurant has served the surviving members of the Doolittle Raiders for their 50th and 60th reunions; as well as members of The Black Sheep squadron at their own reunion, Gen. Paul Tibbett (pilot of the Enola Gay), and has hosted Sen. John McCain and several other presidential candidates.
Ted and his wife Angela met “in the business” and have been married for 25 years this Aug 30th. “Without Angela and my mother helping me get the business started, and her help now, I don’t know where we would be.”
Stambolitis was elected in 2004 and currently serves on the Lexington Town Council. The family lives in the Lexington area with their daughter Victoria (16) and they are anxiously awaiting their son Jonathan’s graduation this year from USC.
For more information about the Flight Deck and other local businesses, visit our website at www.relylocal.com, and see our blog.
