On the other side of the phone, there was a twang in his voice. Logically… “Today is a destabilization. This is a very difficult day for us because we will soon start collecting Skipper’s belongings. People still come here to say goodbye to the closing shop and ask us if we will open after the completion of works at Alimos wharf, which is now owned by a private company and is completely reforming it,” said Giannis Melitas. me Monday afternoon.

On Sunday evening I also made my last pilgrimage to one of the most beloved places in the southern suburbs, which opened in 1987. The atmosphere was bittersweet. All the regulars hugged him and talked to him, they all wanted to know if the cafe and bar that made you feel like you were on an island would have a second life, that gave rise to friendships and romances that had a unique style with marine objects. And among them is a very beautiful painting by Ilias Delloglou, known from his cartoons in “K” as Ilias Makris, created in 1995.

Yesterday’s party spanned generations: “I’ve been approached by couples who had their first date here and now have children and even grandchildren,” said Skipper’s owner, who was in the charter business and first ended up at Marina Alimos. He lived in America for a while and came to Greece with the desire to do something new with the help of his brothers. So he opened a bar at a time when the beach was fashionable only for bouzouki and cantinas.

Its special decoration, which does not change with fashion, its simplicity, proximity to the water have made it one of the most emblematic cafe-bars of the capital. Foreigners also loved him. From Kusturica, who came and played with his group, to the French kayak and canoeists who celebrated their Olympic victory there. But most of all, she was adored by companies, especially in winter, when the stove was always on, and customers, cats and dogs warmed themselves around it.

So Skipper will be closed forever? “The company that now owns the property has informed us that we will be included in plans to build a new marina. Of course, not in the same place, because a hotel will be built here. We are waiting to see and especially to know if we can afford to pay the new price. However, there is nothing more touching than the love of the world. You see, it’s been 35 years. They cannot be forgotten.”