Looking for better economic opportunities, Greek immigrants began to arrive in Birmingham in the 1880s. It is debatable who the first Greek immigrant to the state was. By some reports, it was George Cassimus in 1884. Other accounts suggest it was John Kalamares in 1883. Cassimus is also thought to be the first person to start a Greek-owned business, Fish Lunch House (c1902). 

In the new documentary “Philoxenia,” Birmingham filmmaker and UAB graduate Jessica Chriesman highlights how Birmingham’s Greek immigrants have shaped the hospitality industry with restaurants such as The Bright Star, Gus’s Hot Dogs, Ted’s Restaurant, Demetri’s BBQ, Johnny’s Restaurant, and The Fish Market. 

References/Resources
Greek community has rich history in Birmingham | CBS 42
A dive into Birmingham's Greek restaurant family tree - al.com
Documentary on Birmingham’s Greek-owned restaurants premiering this weekend | CBS 42
The Alabama Food Frontier: Development of a Cuisine, 800 to the Present (alabamafoodways.org)