The Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce this morning welcomed O Aetos to the avenue.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said owner Teresa Chichester before the ribbon-cutting event with chamber members and city officials in attendance.

Chichester and her partners Zacharias Sitzanis, who is the manager, and chef Sophia Phelps began with a soft opening last fall. “The feedback has been very positive,” Chichester said. “It’s been getting better and better. I can’t wait to go full steam.”

She was referring to possible reopening of the entire state by June as Governor Roy Cooper has mapped out.

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On Wednesday Cooper announced with stable trends and continued vaccination success, the state expects to lift mandatory social distancing, capacity, and mass gathering restrictions by June 1. The governor plans to issue an executive order next week outlining safety restrictions for the month of May.

Chamber President and CEO Ginny Lewis said having the restaurant, which occupies the former david’s on Roanoke Avenue, is a good recruitment tool for other businesses looking to locate in Roanoke Rapids. “It’s nice to offer them such a wonderful, such a positive place.”

The restaurant features authentic Mediterranean cuisine as well as updates on continental classics.

For Chichester, the response and the gathering for the ribbon-cutting was positive. “Really, the community acknowledgement means the world to me to have this hometown nod.”