Loyola Blakefield spirit ‘burning strong’ in brothers who own Dundalk restaurant

John and Tony Minadakis, owners of Jimmy’s Famous Seafood in Dundalk, embody the mission statement they learned at Loyola Blakefield: “To serve with and for others.”

The local community has reaped the benefits of that spirit. 

Most recently, the Minadakis brothers organized “The Famous Fund,” a crowdfunding campaign which has raised more than $400,000 to benefit local restaurants struggling with the impact of COVID-19, which brought limited seating and hours and declines in business.

For the brothers, the time they spent at Loyola Blakefield, an all-boys Jesuit school in Towson, was formative, for them and that effort.

“To be a man for others is something I strive to achieve daily,” said John Minadakis, who graduated from Loyola in 2001. “I always feel that we can all give more – be it financially, spiritually or even giving our time. I wholeheartedly believe that my parents sending me to Loyola completely changed the trajectory of my life.”

His brother, a 2004 graduate, echoes those sentiments.

“The Don values have instilled a determination to not only take care of your team but to also help your fellow man when they are in tough times,” Tony Minadakis said. “The important part is to learn the lessons and implement proactive plans to make sure you can be sustainable long term.”

Both recall lessons they learned as upperclassmen on a Kairos – “the Lord’s time” –  retreat, a four-day event where students ponder questions such as: Who am I?”; “Who is Jesus?”; “What is Jesus’ message to me?”; and “How do I live my response to Jesus’ call?” 

For the Minadakis brothers, raised in the Greek Orthodox tradition, the answers came in community outreach. 

“At a relatively young age, I was blessed with outstanding teachers and coaches who showed me what’s really important in life,” John Minadakis said. “The Kairos retreat, in particular, gave me a better understanding of how to treat others and be there for friends in need.”

In addition to The Famous Fund, Jimmy’s Seafood sponsors other charitable events, such as Toys for Tots and a flag football tournament at Loyola Blakefield.

“I would call it the Loyola family, not the community,” John Minadakis said.

“I feel that once someone is brought in, the rest of the family always makes it a point to care for them like they would a brother or nephew. As a result of that connection, Loyola has always been extremely supportive of our charitable endeavors. 

“They have sponsored events, obviously attended them, and helped us in publicizing them. Frequently, I hear from classmates I haven’t seen in years via text or email – just letting me know that they see what we are trying to do and that they love seeing ‘The Loyola Spirit’ burning strong.”

The brothers can also trace their values to their late father,  Demetrios “Jimmy” Minadakis, who founded the restaurant in 1974. Born on Greek island of Karpathos, he came to Baltimore in 1967 to pursue the American dream. Jimmy’s Famous Seafood lived up to its name and became a popular gathering spot. 

The patriarch of the restaurant gave back to the local community by donating food to charities and community organizations, including hospitals, schools, churches, and police and fire departments. His sons continue that legacy.

“My father would always tell us that he came here as an immigrant with nothing, and the community gave him everything,” John Minadakis said. “In turn, he made it abundantly clear that it was our duty – for generations – to give as much as possible back. Imagine landing somewhere – with no money and unable to speak the language – and being accepted with open arms – and open mouths. Our family will never forget that and will continue to demonstrate it through our actions.”

Tony Minadakis remembers when his father made him quit the Loyola football team as a freshman to work at the restaurant. Jimmy Minadakis regretted – and reversed – the decision. When Tony asked his coach if he could rejoin the squad, he was told to ask the rest of the team, which agreed to take him back.

“This taught me accountability and responsibility at a very young age,” Tony Minadakis said. “My father knew that in business you have to be a fabric of your community. If they see that you are not reciprocating and investing back into the community then they will not support you.”

John Minadakis ran track and field at Loyola Blakefield, helping a record-setting 800-meter relay.

“I learned that if you failed, it’s ultimately your own fault,” John Minadakis said. “I learned not to make excuses, and that if someone is ahead of you – you just have to continue to work until you can catch them. I also learned the importance of teamwork and communication via the relay teams. Everyone has to be on the same page; otherwise, the baton gets dropped and everyone around you is let down.”

The Famous Fund has been featured on NBC’s Today Show and gotten support from professional athletes, such as Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey and Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

“Far too often, our city is portrayed in a negative light on the national level,” John Minadakis said. “It was important for us as a town to show what we’re really about, and I felt that the production team did a great job of doing that. I also made it a point to wear my Loyola (personal protection) mask during filming, leaving no doubt where The Famous Fund really started – way back in 1996.”

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