Nick Georgakopoulos, from left, Emmanuel Tsogas and Gus Georgakopoulos are in the process of remodeling the former Sunrise Restaurant in the Yorktowne Mall, 133 N. Duke Street, where they will be opening the Stadium Grille. The new restaurant is expected to be open on January 16. Wednesday January 3, 2006. John Pavoncello photo Stadium Grille set to open a block from stadium CHARLES SCHILLINGER The York Dispatch Article Last Updated: 01/04/2007 10:48:21 AM EST Three men are hoping to tie their new restaurant to the introduction of professional baseball in York. The former Sunrise Restaurant on North Duke Street closed last week and is expected to open in a week, remodeled and with a new name. The aptly named Stadium Grille is only a block away from where construction continues on the Sovereign Bank Stadium, the home of York's new Atlantic League team, the York Revolution. "There's always one place that's known as the place to go after games," said 30-year-old Nick Georgakopoulos, one of the new owners. "We want to be that place." He, his cousin Gus Georgakopoulos and Emmanuel Tsogas -- Gus Georgakopoulos' brother-in-law -- started looking early last year for a restaurant site in York City. They jumped on the chance to take over the Sunrise Restaurant when they considered its proximity to the new stadium. "There's definitely a need for this in the city," said the 26-year-old Tsogas. "There's just not enough places to eat downtown." Mayor John Brenner said even though state and local government officials have discussed the economic benefit to a stadium in downtown York, it's good to see business people who agree. "I didn't know about this one, but it's great news and a wonderful location for the new owners," he said. "Not only is it right near the stadium, but it's just a few blocks from the square and the Judicial Center." Brenner said the Stadium Grille will be "the first of many" small businesses that will pop up around the stadium to reap the benefits from the baseball team. Working fast: The new owners took over the restaurant Dec. 28, getting to work quickly to replace the flooring, ceiling and booths, and adding a brick oven for pizza and new televisions to the bar room. Instead of waiting on people at tables as the Sunrise Restaurant had, they plan to move to a counter service, where people order and pick up their food at a counter and sit down to eat. "This will not be the typical fast food," said the 38-year-old Gus Georgakopoulos, a native of Greece. "We're going to have pizza, stromboli, fresh burgers. And chicken. We're going to be known for our famous fried chicken. It's a very old recipe." Nick Georgakopoulos said by fresh burgers they mean they will not serve pre-made, frozen hamburgers, but rather freshly made ones. "A clean, good-quality restaurant. That's what we're hoping to be known for," he said. The trio is not new to the restaurant business. Nick and Gus Georgakopoulos have owned and operated the Mason Dixon Family Restaurant on South Main Street in Shrewsbury for seven years; Tsogas works there as well. Jan. 15 at the latest: The new restaurant is expected to be open no later than Monday, Jan. 15. They plan to gear the restaurant toward some stadium theme over the next year, instead of all at once, realizing the need to establish a customer base among residents in the area and businesspeople working in downtown York. Tsogas, who has lived in the York area his entire life, said he doesn't expect the location to be a safety issue. "People are genuinely nice here. We just need to get people to understand the city isn't a war zone or anything crazy like that," he said. Gus Georgakopoulos added the area around the restaurant is well lighted. More foot traffic in the area because of the stadium won't hurt either. "I think with the stadium there, the city is only going to get better," said Nick Georgakopoulos. Stadium Grille of York 133 N. Duke St., in the Yorktowne Mall Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Hours might vary when York Revolution baseball team is playing. Opening Date: No later than Jan. 15.