On a Monday evening, Rocky Kasaftes mans the grill at Alex’s Tavern, flipping burgers and frying wings with a jukebox playing in the background — a job he has perfected over the past 45 years.

Alex’s was named after Kasaftes’ father, the original owner, who opened the tavern in 1953. And, while many things have changed over the years, much has remained the same. 

Sound Bites: Overton Square closings, new Midtown bar, Majestic Grille brunch

The interior of Alex’s feels like taking a step back in time, with nostalgic posters and photos lining the walls and a picture of Kasaftes’ dad proudly hanging above the two jukeboxes.

“It ain’t about me,” Kasaftes is quick to say. “It’s my dad’s bar. That’s his name on the sign. And I don’t like ‘restaurant owner’ or ‘bar owner.’ I like to say I’m a ‘tavern-keeper.’”

Alex Kasaftes originally opened Alex’s Tavern next door to its current spot, where Azor’s Liquor is today. That location was short-lived, and Alex’s has been a staple at 1445 Jackson Ave. for decades.

Early on, people were skeptical of the bar having much success on the pie-shaped corner of Jackson and Lyndale avenues.

A ‘Toast:’ Breakfast restaurant hopes to be part of North Memphis revival

“Everyone was trying to get me to move out East,” Kasaftes said. “Charlie Vergos from the Rendezvous said, ‘Stay right here and make them come to you.’”

And people did.

“My mom came in the bar one day and said, ‘We need food.’”

Over the years, Alex’s has served hundreds of thousands of its famous Greek burgers, and over time the menu has expanded to include ribs, gumbo, wings and more.

“My mom came in the bar one day and said, ‘We need food,’” Rocky Kasaftes said, adding that his mom died in 2001. “Mom made everything at home, and then it was just burgers and chips for a long time.”

Kasaftes hand-forms the 6-ounce patties and seasons them with a mix that’s part Cavender’s Greek seasoning and part black pepper blend.

“The hot-and-Greek wings were an accident,” he said. “I forgot if a customer said hot or Greek, so I double-dipped them. Now people ask for the double-dipped wings.

Kasaftes recalled a time when late food writer Jennifer Biggs brought a group of judges to Alex’s to try the ribs.

My Favorite Things: Alex’s Greek Burger

“This group had been all over town trying ribs, and I think a lot of the big guys were mad because they said I had the best in town,” Kasaftes said.

Kasaftes makes one or two cases of ribs per week, which are cooked at 200 degrees for six hours, seasoned and basted in apple juice before being steamed on the flattop.

Like many restaurants and bars, Alex’s was rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it relied on its regular customers’ takeout orders and catering. The late-night hours were also scaled back.

“I’m sure I’m on the back nine, so we close around midnight or 1 a.m. now,” Kasaftes, who is 68, said. “We have an older crowd who comes to watch the Tigers and Grizzlies, but we have people 21 to 80 who come in.”

If you’re Gregg Allman, then I’m Sam Malone from “Cheers.”

Alex’s has also seen its fair share of celebrities come in over the years, such as the time Kasaftes didn’t recognize Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band. 

“I told him, if you’re Gregg Allman, then I’m Sam Malone from ‘Cheers,’” Kasaftes said. Allman died in 2017.

Affordable cottage community planned for Uptown

Kasaftes graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in marketing, and his marketing strategy for Alex’s is simple. It’s also effective, seeing as it has worked since he took over for his father, who died in 1978.

“I’m a firm believer in good music, TVs for watching sports, good food and treating your people and customers right,” he said. “It’s not how many people come in — it’s how many people come back.”

Since the pandemic, it’s just Kasaftes and his longtime, right-hand helper, Eyvette Bafford, who has worked for Alex’s for 20 years. He admits he could use more help.

“(Alex’s) is kind of like home to a lot of people. I cherish the ones who have come in over the years. I really wish my mom and dad could be here.”

Alex’s, located at 1445 Jackson Ave., opens daily around 3 to 4 p.m. and closes around midnight to 1 a.m. It opens earlier on the weekends for sports games.

View Gallery