Anthony Athanas: The Albanian Who Became an American Legend

 

 Anthony Athanas, one of the most successful restaurateurs in the United States and a lifelong supporter of the Albanian cause, was born in 1911 in the village of Trebickë, in the Vakëf region of Korça, Albania. At the age of four, he emigrated with his family to America, but he never severed ties with his homeland.

By Petrit F. Zeneli

Anthony Athanas with President John F. Kennedy on the left and famous Hollywood actor Anthony Quinn on the right

“My family ties to Albania remained alive,” he once said, “because my parents taught us the Albanian language and told us about the history and culture of our ancestors.”

Athanas grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts, after arriving in America in 1915. His early years were marked by hard work—delivering fruits and vegetables with a cart, selling newspapers, and later lighting wood and coal stoves in restaurant kitchens. Gradually, he moved up through various positions in restaurants and hotels across New England and New York, gaining invaluable experience from skilled managers and owners.

Anthony Athanas and Richard Nixon

In 1937, he opened his first restaurant, Anthony’s Hawthorne in Lynn, Massachusetts. Its success was immediate and remarkable. Over the years, he expanded with several other establishments, culminating in 1963 with the opening of Anthony’s Pier 4, on Boston Harbor. The restaurant quickly became one of the most famous in the United States and, indeed, the world.

For decades, Anthony’s Pier 4 hosted world leaders, U.S. presidents, religious figures, renowned writers, artists, athletes, and politicians. Athanas raised four sons—Anthony Jr., Michael, Robert, and Paul—all of whom continued the family’s restaurant tradition into the 21st century.

Anthony Athanas on the left and Pope Paul VI on the right

When he passed away at the age of 93, on May 20, 2005, all major Boston television stations covered his death in their lead news segments. They highlighted his Albanian heritage, his rise to prominence as a multimillionaire businessman, and his friendships with American political and cultural icons.

Tributes poured in from across the nation. Senator John Kerry declared:
“Anthony lived the American dream and never forgot where he came from. He embodied one of the greatest immigrant success stories and turned his life journey into a true National Institution.”

Senator Edward Kennedy remembered him warmly:
“I loved him—as I loved gathering there for all family events and political meetings. Anthony knew what it meant to work for a living, and his kindness and generosity will be missed by us all.”

Boston Mayor Kevin White said:
“Our city has lost a gentleman and a great Bostonian.”

Beyond his business success, Anthony Athanas was a tireless supporter of the Albanian-American community. He was a major benefactor of the organization Vatra and assisted countless new immigrants. His contributions extended globally, supporting Albanians in Europe as well. Athanas played a decisive role in advocating for Kosovo’s independence, sending numerous letters and telegrams to U.S. presidents, the State Department, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He was also instrumental in restoring U.S.-Albania diplomatic relations, supporting Albania’s democratic transition, strengthening the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, and uniting Albanians of all ideologies under the national cause. In 1989, he visited Albania with deep emotion, assessing its situation firsthand and expressing optimism for its future.

Anthony Athanas passed away in his home in Swampscott, Massachusetts, leaving behind a towering legacy. He remains not only a legendary figure in America’s hospitality industry but also a patriot who never abandoned his roots. His life embodies the strength of the Albanian spirit abroad.

This is the remarkable story of the Trebickalliu, Anthony Athanas—a man who deserves an honored place in the history of the Albanian people.